Thousands Greeks flocked to churches and many shared the Holy Communion on Orthodoxy Sunday, despite concerns about coronavirus outbreak. Despite all warnings, the Greek Orthodox Church has been insisting that Covid-19 is not a threat to believers, and that the virus cannot be transmitted via the Holly Communion spoon that is normally shared by 30-50 people on an average day.
A prominent Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Athens. Eleni Giamarellou, shocked a part of the society when she declared on national radio on ……… that the faithful can have the Holy Communion during Easter without fearing the coronavirus.
Calling the debate “unjust for the Holy Communion,” Giamarellou said, among others, that “the Holy Communion is a mystery, you receive it because it is the body and blood of Christ. It’s the biggest mystery. There are no medieval solutions, like [plastic] teaspoons, etc. I am totally against them.”
Many doctors and “experts” supported on the media, the option that “one cannot get infected through the Holy Communion and the spoon.”
Priests told the faithful on TV, claiming that “the spoon does not touch the lips.”
Such statements trigger, of course, crucial health questions like “Does the coronavirus fly?”
Bishop of Nea Ionia was very clear on the issue: “The Holy Communion transmits God’s Grace not viruses.”
Although, the National Health Organization (EODY) advises citizens of 1000+1 protection measures, it has no official advise for the Holy Communion, so far.
The public debate has been on going for several days, and on Sunday, some politician, like Elena Rapti from Thessaloniki, proudly announced that she had the Communion and she will keep receiving it. “Τhe Holy Communion heals,” Rapti told a website about religious issues.
Doctors’ associations criticized her about her irresponsible statements.
The Federation of Associations of Hospital Doctors said in a statement: “The transmission of current seasonal respiratory viruses (coronavirus and influenza) is carried out by droplets emitted from the mouth-pharynx cavity and the nose of the infected.”
Anyway, the fierce debate is most highly to come to an end today, as the Holy Synod is reportedly meeting today to take crucial decisions and advises for the faithful in times of coronavirus.
Another issue is, of course, whether churches should continue the mess and how the vulnerable groups of the society, elderly and those with existing health issues, should fulfill their religious duties.
Populist politicians rushed to the Churches on Sunday, and posted pictures of their church going in a truly irresponsible attitude to prove that the Church is not a place where one can get infected with the virus.
So far, Greece has 74 confirmed cases of coronavirus and some 700 “suspected cases” in house isolation.
UPDATE: In a statement issued Monday noon, the Holy Synod defying science ruled that Church going and receiving the Holy Communion do not pose any health risk for the faithful. The country’s clergy will fight the virus with prayers.
“Wash hands,” will do, the statement said, among others, urging the faithful to receive the Holy Communion without fear.”
Furthermore, the Holy Synod ordered “specific prayers against the coronavirus to be held in all churches of the country next Sunday.”
The only concession to science is that it advises “vulnerable groups suffering form respiratory, heart and other issues” to not leave their homes.
Holy Water protection – 100% approved by the Creator…
My Big Fat Greek Orthodox Church (but without the Windex)
Retired Orthodox bishop who is notorious for engaging in hate speech says small spray container of holy water offers best protection from #COVID2019 https://t.co/wNXVVK679l
— Damian Mac Con Uladh (@damomac) March 9, 2020
PS “Blessed” plastic spoons could be the solution.
They literally brought the virus here from their “Holy Land”. Most of the people infected in Western Greece right now are all Jeesusers who had been to God’s “holy” places jeesusing. How does that speak for some kind of sacred immunity God is supposedly granting his believers?? Atheists are safer/doing better in Greece right now.
Dangerous medieval obscurantism! Expropriate the mighty Greek Orthodox Church! Revoke Eleni Giamarellou’s license to teach as
Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Athens!
We are in the midst of the Corona virus with people dying all around the United States and the world. I am an Eastern Orthodox parishioner. Until the church I go to decides to pay attention to good and true medical science and allows us to take the Eucharist with a disposable spoon I will stay away.