The influential Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece on Monday said it totally disagrees with a government decision – issued on Friday – to keep cathedrals and chapels closed to worshipers on Wednesday during the feast of the Epiphany, adding that clerics will keep churches doors’ open to the faithful, based on previous public assembly restrictions for places of worship in the country.
Wednesday marks the 12th day after Christmas, the Epiphany, known as the Feast of the Theophany in the Orthodox Church, one of the most important days on the ecclesiastical calendar.
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece convened during an extraordinary session under the chairmanship of Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos, with hierarchs later issuing a stern rebuke to last week’s decision by the Mitsotakis government to ban the presence of worshippers for Wednesday’s services – including the annual sanctification of waters ceremony and the tossing of the Cross into the waters, which are often held quayside, in lakes, rivers and reservoirs.
The stricter public assembly measures were announced last Friday and will extend to Jan. 11 in order to prevent exposure to the Covid-19 virus.
The announcement by the Holy Synod referred to “abrupt decisions” by the government, adding that the Church of Greece has not consented, and will insist on churches and chapels remaining open to worshipers for the feast of the Theophany.
The Holy Synod added that it will send a letter of protest to the government, stressing that dialogue is the only means to resolve issues affecting Church-state relations.
In a statement afterwards, the Holy Synod’s spokesman, Metropolitan Athinagoras, told reporters that “…we will open the churches. The government can do as it wishes.”
He added that the Greek government had not previously briefed the Church over its decision to keep worshipers away from the Epiphany services.
