A Joint Ministerial Decision of Greece’s Ministries of Education and Health was published on Monday, specifying the way churches are allowed to operate between April 12 and April 20, during the Orthodox Christian Holy Week and Easter Sunday.
Churches will be open and able to conduct liturgies, but must abide by under Greece’s strict social-distancing rules and without any congregation whatsoever in attendance.
Up to four people only will be allowed inside each church, including the priest, acolyte and chanter(s).
The church itself will be obliged to enforce the appropriate social distancing rules and any other public-health related measures put in place by the State.
Churches will be allowed to broadcast their liturgies both on television and radio as well as individually via live streaming them on the internet, as is currently done elsewhere.
These measures apply to all religions, and even include all the monasteries of the country, where congregants are not allowed even at normal times.
Greece and the rest of the Orthodox Christian world will celebrate Easter this year on Sunday, April 19, one week after the Western Churches.
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