One after another, church circles, Christian organizations, and New Democracy lawmakers are exerting intense pressure on the government, to lift restrictions on places of worship so that the faithful can attend churches during the holidays.
Under the slogan «We demand open churches—do not imprison our souls» 180 Orthodox Christian organizations throughout Greece are denouncing the closure of churches ahead of Christmas.
In fact, in a letter sent to His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and all the Most Reverend Bishops of Greece, they condemn the government for ignoring the religious needs of citizens.
«How can we understand that the government, while taking every public health measure to curb the pandemic, does not resort to any spiritual means, which are incomparably more powerful and wondrous; »Will we really overcome the pandemic through public health measures alone? And not through spiritual measures, by turning to God?” they point out.
The 180 Christian organizations are asking the government to allow them to visit their churches and perform their religious duties. «What we are asking for is to be allowed to go to our churches! To be able to light a candle. To go to confession. To attend Mass.’. Let's celebrate!»
At the same time, they emphasize that «the faithful appreciate the efforts of doctors and nurses and respect and abide by the laws of the State. Let the State also respect «the holy churches, which’ »they are not sources of virus transmission".
