Greek, Cretan [Orthodox] Synods Call for Reopening of Churches, One Hierarch Declares Churches Open in Face of State’s Double Standard

Pravoslavie ^ | 4/27/20

[marshmallow]

Having endured Holy Week, Pascha, and Bright Week with closed churches, the hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece and of the Eparchial Holy Synod of Crete are calling on the Greek state to reopen the holy sites and allow the faithful to return to the Divine services.

Although Crete is a Greek island, the Church there falls under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which has about 50 dioceses throughout Greece.

Following a vote from the metropolitans of the Greek Holy Synod, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens addressed a letter to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and six other recipients on Wednesday, April 22, calling for the reopening of the churches, reports Romfea.

Speaking on ANT1’s Good Morning Greece this morning, Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos), the spokesmen for the Holy Synod, explained that the Archbishop is still awaiting a response from the PM.

The content of the letter was not “harsh,” as reported in Greek media, but “realistic,” Met. Hierotheos said. In it, the Archbishop wishes the PM a joyous Pascha and congratulates him on the work done so far. He also refers to the Church’s huge contribution in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, despite the internal and external difficulties it faces.

Met. Hierotheos also explained that the Archbishop’s letter specifies that the necessary sanitary measures will be observed, including the faithful remaining in the church courtyard in the case of mass gatherings, and churches being ventilated and providing antiseptic.

[Pontiac]

Has anyone heard from any American Bishop calling for the opening of Churches?

[livius]

Three small-diocese bishops...two from Montana and one from Texas...came forward today. My bishop in Florida shut down the churches immediately, even though this was never ordered by the Governor...because our Archbishop in Miami called for it. I thought Abp Wenski was better than that, but I guess I was wrong.

Our local bishop told the priests not to continue providing the sacraments and most didn’t, but a few have been having confessions and “private” masses anyway and have opened their churches. As for our bishop, nobody has seen him for at least a month and we’re not even sure he’s alive, because all of his correspondence is answered by a deacon who is now the chancellor. Bizarre beyond belief - and that thundering noise you hear is the hoof beats of the sheep streaming out of the Church.

[Pontiac]

Three small-diocese bishops...two from Montana and one from Texas...came forward today.

Perhaps it is easier to be brave when you are small and can escape public scrutiny.

Or, perhaps, those that are brave and stand by the traditional values of the Church are relegated to the smaller dioceses where they will not attract attention.