Posted on 03/10/2020 5:15:46 PM PDT by ebb tide
The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece issued a statement on Monday referring to the Covid19 coronavirus outbreak, maintaining that Holy Communion does not transmit the virus.
The new, controversial statement comes after days of heated public debate in Greece about whether the Church of Greece should adopt more drastic measures to limit the potential spread of the disease through its liturgies and the Holy Eucharist.
”For the members of the Church, attending the Holy Eucharist … certainly cannot be a cause of disease transmission,” the Holy Synod declared in its statement.
”Faithful of all ages know that coming to receive Holy Communion, even in the midst of a pandemic, is both a practical affirmation of self-surrender to the Living God, and an apparent manifestation of love,” the Greek Orthodox Church averred. The statement will undoubtedly spark another public controversy on the subject.
The Church’s declaration included a series of self-protection measures that all people should follow, including frequent handwashing and the use of antiseptic products as well as parishioners keeping a personal distance from one another.
It also suggested that those who belong to sensitive population groups should stay at home; however, it did not encourage them to stay away from liturgies.
It is noted that the Greek Orthodox Church of America recently issued a similar statement. There, Archbishop Elpidophoros did encourage those who are ill not to attend the services of the Church, saying that ”we counsel those feeling unwell physically to refrain from liturgical assemblies until they are certain of their diagnosis.”
Related story: Holy Communion in the Τimes of Coronavirus
Ping
Stupid, IMHO. His Kingdom is not of this world, He said.
The hysteria is too much! Unstopable!
Yes, there is hysteria. But I’m not sure what you meant. Did you mean that the communion has divine exception from infection, or merely that it is a low probability transmission vector?
Not necessarily - so long as the priest doesn’t touch the mouth/lips/hand while placing the bread any possible transmission will be effectively killed by the wine.
There’s still a risk but no more so than coming to church to begin with or getting fast food during this pandemic - or ordering from Amazon.
Ummm...ok.
Ok, low probability of transmission if carefully done. I understand that.
Killed by wine you say?
The matter depends on whether you accept the argument that the communion wafer and wine are “transformed” into the actual body & blood or Christ or the argument that they are symbolic of those things and taken in remembrance of the crucifixion and resurrection of Yeshua the Christ.
no its transmitted by the hand that gives it after touching all the mouths before.
What an unsanitary ritual
Bookmark
Something is off.
They should soak the wafers and the priest in 180 proof alcohol.
“any possible transmission will be effectively killed by the wine.”
Ummm....no.
L
Good luck with that. We are to have faith, but God gave us brains for a reason.
FWIW, from the LA Times, 2005. Some scientists weigh in.
“Does the Communion Cup Runneth Over with Germs?”
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jan-01-me-beliefs1-story.html
Not necessarily - so long as the priest doesn’t touch the mouth/lips/hand while placing the bread any possible transmission will be effectively killed by the wine.
LOL. I didn’t realize sacramental wine was 120 to 140 proof.
That’s the concentration of alcohol that will deactivate the virus.
And you do realize that the airborne transmission zone is greater than 6 feet.
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