Hierarch of Greek Church: Even USSR did not see such closure of temples

Metropolitan Nektarios of Kerkyra. Photo: basilica.ro

Metropolitan of Kerkyra, Paxoi and Diapontic Islands Nektarios said that even in the Soviet Union there was no such closure of churches as in modern Greece because of the coronavirus, the publication of the Orthodoxia News Agency reports.

In a Skype interview with journalist Maria Yakhnaki, the Metropolitan expressed regret about what is happening in the Church in connection with the pandemic and condemned all those who say that Divine Communion is a source of infection transmission.

According to him, "the church authorities should have set tight boundaries on such a serious issue as our faith, but they did not."

“Our Constitution so far protects us and helps the prevailing faith but, unfortunately, the Church has not established any boundaries,” and “there was no such vast closure of churches even in the Soviet Union,” he emphasized.

Vladyka also believes that the Holy Synod should have provided great support in this matter. “Do you know what it means when people ask us to open churches to receive the Holy Communion, but we refuse them? They crave for the sacrament, but we turn them down?” the hierarch asks.

He also recalled the words of Archbishop Christodoulos, who said, "Fathers should be at the forefront, rather than tail along."

According to him, “we need leaders to lead the people to the Promised Land. We need Moses in the Church, who will lead us to salvation and deliverance,” Metropolitan Nektarios emphasized.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Greek Metropolitan said he was opening churches in his diocese.

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