"The participation of the faithful was average, the distances were maintained", tells AFP Father Maximos of the Saint-André church in Agia Paraskevi, a northern suburb of Athens.

Many Greek Orthodox Christians attended their first mass on Sunday, May 17, in two months. A mass during which communion was given, despite the risk of the spread of the coronavirus, advanced by scientists.

In Greece, as part of the gradual deconfinement started on May 4, churches were allowed to reopen their doors from May 17 on condition of respecting a series of measures, in particular social distancing.

At the entrance to Saint-André church, the faithful were invited to use the disinfectant placed on a small table. Wearing a mask was recommended but not mandatory, according to the Minister of Civil Protection. Besides, in this church, "only a third of the faithful wore masks," said Father Maximos.

"We cannot give up the practice of communion"

The restrictions placed on churches since March 23 as part of general confinement had coincided with Orthodox Passover on April 19, which provoked many reactions from the Holy Synod.

Finally, this supreme ecclesiastical body agreed with scientists to prohibit the influx of the faithful into the churches while refusing to ban communion, not recommended by doctors.

"Communion is a highly symbolic ritual," said Father Maximos, stressing that he gave it this Sunday to the faithful who wanted it.

"We must respect the measures recommended by scientists but we cannot give up the practice of communion, given for centuries to anyone, sick or not," said Yannis P., a retired high school teacher, who attended mass at Saint-André church. "It is a question of faith, if we are afraid we do not communicate," added the former mathematician. 

Less affected than other European countries, Greece has so far deplored 162 dead and 2,819 cases of Covid-19.

With AFP

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