Greek [Orthodox] Churches Will Open on Theophany Despite Lockdown, Church Will Cover Any Fines on Churches

Pravoslavie ^ | 1/5/20

[marshmallow]

Despite the Greek Church’s strong protest yesterday, Greek authorities have reiterated that churches must remain closed on the feast of Theophany.

Despite its initial decision that churches would be open to a limited number of faithful for Nativity, New Year’s, and Theophany, the government announced on Saturday that the feast of Theophany and the Great Blessing of the Waters will be served by the clergy in closed churches without any parishioners.

According to authorities, the Church of Greece “should realize the critical importance of the current crisis for society, as it has done so far.” The Church endured a complete lockdown earlier this year during the Lenten and Paschal seasons.

Although the government initially agreed that a limited number of faithful could attend Theophany services, “the need not to jeopardize the stable pace of the fight against the coronavirus, especially in view of the reopening of schools, mandated a return to the previous regime of restrictions—Liturgy will be served behind closed doors on Theophany, without the faithful,” the authorities said, reports Romfea.

The Church may not agree with the new measures, “but the law cannot be applied at will so that anyone who disagrees can ignore it,” the government statement underlines.

However, according to Metropolitan Athenagoras of Ilium, the press secretary of the Holy Synod, the Church cannot accept the state’s new order. The previous measures had been reached as an agreement between the Church and state, and the state should keep its word.

[mosesdapoet]

On This “Little Christmas” THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY
January 6th from my The First Book Of Moses poetry page

On This “Little Christmas”
January 6th

Once Upon a Time and not too long ago
The Twelfth Night Of Christmas
was celebrated with a ball
From the Day of Babes Birth
and the 11 thereafter
kith and kin were paid a visit
and friends from far and near
once were paid a call
So on this day I pray in the spirit that this date recalls
Let the gift of homage of kings gain
in the spirit of the days this season yet remain
ere it wane
Be thine Blessings Great
and misfortunes thee none befall

This poem is an abbreviated version from my websites poetry page which shows how the Christmas season was observed by Catholics in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood during depression times and WWII.The page also lists the differences from traditional Roman Catholic Christmas observance and the present after Vatican 2.Which eliminated a period of mortification during the advent period of fast and abstinence or reducing emphasis on observing feast days such as Immaculate Conception December 8th and the 12th day of Christmas known as the Epiphany January 6th.Resulting in listing Epiphany no longer on most calendars because of the decision to observe Epiphany to a Sunday following Christmas the 25th and New Years which was then known as the feast of Circumcision later named The Presentation when Jesus was presented in the Temple .
http://www.theusmat.com/natdesk.htm