The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia has finally released a communiqué with guidelines for the church to follow due to the coronavirus outbreak. The guidelines call on people to follow the directions of the government and medical profession.
Archbishop Makarios’ communique outlines the safety of Holy Communion. “I responsibly assure every faithful person that up until now in the history of our Church there have never been any cases where an epidemic of infectious disease has been transmitted through Holy Communion,” he said, but added that the Holy Archdiocese of Australia understands the “reservations and insecurities of some people” who fear transmission. “All those who abstain from receiving Holy Communion during this period of crisis, are certainly not considered to be indifferent to, or opponents of, the faith and the Church.”
He said that they should not feel “guilt” for not accepting the sacrament of communion. “Besides, the spiritual life is about freedom without force”.
The communique emphasises that scientists state that “the transmission of the virus occurs when we are in close contact with a person who is infected”, adding that “when someone is in Church, even if they have not received Holy Communion, they are in serious danger of contracting the disease, and at the same time, of transmitting this virus to their close family members as well as to other people around them.”
The contagiousness of the disease, however, causes concern. “For this reason, we advise our faithful, during this critical time, not to attend any events where many people gather, including church services” so that the “entire community remains safe and protected”.
The communiqué acknowledges that a significant portion of churchgoers may be among the more vulnerable groups. For this reason, priests with large parishes that number more than 500 are advised to “close doors to Churches before this maximum number is reached”.
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Archbishop Makarios called on priests and bishops to respect the directive of the Australian government while also asking priests to “not to give their hand to be kissed even when they hand out the antidoron” as e hand can become “a source of infection and the means of transmission of the virus”.
The communiqué also states that the numbers should also be restricted at Sacraments and funerals.
The Archdiocese of Sydney and other local Archdiocesan Districts will only operate from 10am until noon from today until 3 April.
Classes at St Andrew’s Theological College will be offered online.
“When we overlook the dangers that result from such a pandemic disease affecting public health, either through our indifference or in the name of any other religious conviction, then we are committing a deadly sin,” the communiqué states.
“I ask that you do not compare circumstances and measures of other Metropolitanates with our local Church,” states the communiqué. “In Europe, for example,three Metropolitanates suspended all services within their Churches. This measure, however, arose as a result of regulations and measures of the State which did not only concern the Orthodox Church but also the Churches of other Christian denominations and religions.”
Neos Kosmos has contacted the archdiocese for a comment as to how the communique will be applied in practice.
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