Met Seraphim of Kythera: Pandemic cannot be overcome by closing churches

Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira. Photo: pentapostagma.gr

Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera and Antikythera of the Greek Orthodox Church said that the coronavirus pandemic cannot be overcome by closing churches, reports the Greek resource “Romfea”.

During a sermon at the Church of the Mother of God in Myrtidiotissa, Metropolitan Seraphim noted that “just as we do not close hospitals and sanatoriums, we must not close churches. Indeed, who has calculated the spiritual damage that believers endure when they live outside the Divine Eucharist? Who can rate this?"

“This ordeal cannot be overcome if we go in this unorthodox way, closing the churches and waiting for things to change. That is why we appeal to all those in charge and the Holy Synod to speed up the procedures so that the Temples of God to operate with certain measures that can be taken."

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that according to Metropolitan Seraphim, the COVID epidemic has intensified due to the closure of churches.

Read also

UOC community in Germany moves to Constantinople Patriarchate

UOC clergy in Erfurt argued their decision to transfer to the Church of Constantinople by claiming that Germany is supposedly the canonical territory of the Phanar.

Volyn deputy on Forgiveness Sunday: I ask forgiveness from everyone except UOC

Huz’s aide said that UOC believers “have no love.”

UOC delivers charging stations to frontline communities in Donetsk region

The UOC Social Department sent five high-capacity power units to Druzhkivka, Lyman, and Sloviansk; the equipment will help residents cope with electricity outages.

Participants of U.S. Christian forum call for "moral imperative" to shape AI

At the conference in the United States, theologians and IT experts discussed how artificial intelligence affects relationships, faith, and society, emphasizing the need for ethical frameworks.

Radical groups reported among those who seized UOC church in Shchaslyve

During the seizure of the church in Shchaslyve, radical groupings acted, including the “Combat Brotherhood of Ukraine” and “Right Youth,” who present themselves as “believers.”

His Beatitude Onuphry addresses the faithful on fourth anniversary of war

On the anniversary of the start of the full-scale hostilities, the Primate of the UOC called for prayer for peace, support for the defenders, and the preservation of the people’s spiritual unity.