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Priests detained in Greece, churchgoers fined for violating lockdown

Priest have been taken to police stations and churchgoers have been fined for violating the movement restrictions, while others, politically motivated, have been detained and ultimately arrested for creating havoc outside churches. Easter 2020 is difficult in Greece.

Priests and churchgoers are on the verge of a nervous breakdown as the coronavirus lockdown in Greece dictates that religious services take place behind closed doors and the faithful to attend the services in front of the television even if it is Holy Week and Easter.

While the majority of Greeks comply with the restrictions measures, some display anti-social behavior and they do not seem to care about the possible spread of the virus. Often the scenes have turned really ugly.

On the island of Chios, the priest who usually celebrates the so-called First Resurrection on Saturday morning jumping around in joy was detained because he had opened the church doors. A woman who tried to enter the church was also detained after she argued with police officers and beat one on the hand. the priest came out shouting “Shame!”

The real challenge for believers, clergy and authorities was the Good Friday with the tradition of Epitaphios procession to be held inside the church this year.

Priests in several areas across the country defied the state orders and the recommendations of the Holy Synod and opened the doors to the faithful, who queued to pay their respect and kiss the icon of Jesus Christ in the grave.

In the old town of Rhodes, the congregation of Archaggelos and of Halki kept the tradition of the Epitaph Procession but very late at night to escape controls and fines. They crowded nicely holding their candles and chanting the hymns.

One of the processions took place at 3 o’ clock on Saturday morning.

In Ptolemaida, the Epitaph was loaded on the back of a pick-up truck that drove through the village. The priest was sitting in the front and chanted with a loudspeaker.

Oft police just made recommendations to keep a safety distance, while in other cases, they went against the crowding and the vi9olations of the restrictions.

A few fines of 150 euros each were imposed, apparently just to set an example for the rest.

Some 70 members of neo-nazis Golden Dawn led by one of the former MPs of the party gathered outside a church in Korydallos suburb of Athens demanding that the Epitaphios procession takes place outside the Church. With racist comments and false claims about “open mosques but closed churches,” they scuffled with police injuring one officer. @0 people were detained and their detention was later turned into arrest. The ex MP is on the run still early afternoon on Saturday.

Tested is also the patience are also consumers who have to wait in queues up to 30-40 minutes before they can enter the supermarket or the butcher’s to make their purchases for the festive Easter table.

For the government, these Easter days are crucial for decisions to start gradually lifting the lockdown measures in Greece.

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