ATHENS, Greece (AP) – The powerful Greek Orthodox Church is rebelling against a government order to briefly close places of worship in a week-long campaign to tighten restrictions on viruses before the planned reopening of schools.
The governing body of the conservative Church issued a statement on Monday instructing priests to admit worshipers during closed services for Wednesday’s Epiphany feast. The Holy Synod said it “does not accept” the new restrictions, in effect from 3 to 10 January, and would send a letter of protest to the center-right government.
The government responded with a moderate statement expressing hope that the Church “will perceive, as it has done so far with responsibility, how crucial this time is for (Greek) society”.
He added that Greeks are still free to offer individual prayers in the church, but not to attend services. This was not specified when the restrictions were announced on January 2.
After Greece saw a spike in new infections and deaths from COVID-19 in November, when intensive care units nearly reached their maximum capacity, the authorities imposed a second blockade, closing schools and suspending many economic and social activities. The measures were partially relaxed before Christmas, when churches and non-essential stores were able to resume some activities – albeit with limitations – along with hair salons and manicurists.
All of them have been closed for a week, while priests can conduct Epiphany religious services, but without admitting worshipers. The restrictions were intended to stem the spread of the virus so that schools could reopen after the Christmas and New Year holidays, after a two-month hiatus because of the pandemic.
The education ministry said on Monday that the preschool classes for the nursery and elementary school will begin again on January 11, while secondary schools will resume online classes on January 8, with a view to reopening when possible.
The statement by the Holy Synod said that the government should maintain the relaxation of Christmas, which followed negotiations with the Church, arguing that the clerics faithfully followed all pandemic containment measures agreed during the holiday.
Church officials have shown a mixed response to measures to contain the pandemic, ranging from lukewarm support to virulent opposition.
The Church’s moderate leader, Archbishop Ieronymos – who himself contracted and recovered from COVID-19 – supported the country’s ongoing vaccination campaign. But a conservative bishop made headlines after Christmas for protesting against vaccines, telling parishioners that he had been informed that they included material collected from aborted fetuses.
Greece on Monday began vaccinating residents and nursing home workers, with officials saying the unit would be completed by 20 January. Separately, health workers have already started being vaccinated.
Nearly 10,000 people have received the jab since December 27, more than half of them on Monday, while the target for the end of January is 220,000.
Meanwhile, new confirmed daily infections remained within three digits – 427 on Monday – a considerable improvement from an increase of more than 3,500 in November. Health officials reported 54 new deaths, compared with a daily record of 120 in November.
The total death toll in the country of almost 11 million is about 5,000.
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