Orthodox Church of Cyprus urges believers to abstain from liturgies

A woman wears a face mask as she leaves the Panayia Faneromeni Christian Orthodox church in central Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, 14 March 14, 2020. Cyprus had banned all gatherings of 75 people, and on Sunday, Archbishop Chrysostomos urged the faithful to not feel guilty for staying home. Photo: AAP via AP Photo/Petros Karadjias

16 March 2020 9:52am

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The Church of Cyprus has called on believers to abstain from all liturgies for three weeks until 10 April to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Archbishop Chrysostomos praised the government for the draconian measures adopted, adding that Cypriots should not make the same mistake as some European countries that are delaying drastic action.

The Archbishop said the faithful should not feel guilty about abstaining from church services and Holy Communion, and added that church services will be televised on Fridays and Saturdays and there will also be broadcasts on the Archbishop’s radio station.

Cypriot believers were asked to pray for a resolution to this “deadly situation as soon as possible”.