One day after the stir created yesterday with the statement of Archbishop Eirinaios of Crete, the Archdiocese of Crete issued an announcement confirming that all the measures provided by the authorities are observed.
In particular, Archbishop Eirinaios stated that the faithful should not wear a mask inside the church because it “imprisons the faith“. The statement was refuted by the Archdiocese as non-existent. However, the Creta24 news site posted an uncut video with the statement of the Archbishop of Crete who urged the faithful not to wear a mask.
Today, in the announcement, the Archdiocese points out that all the decisions taken by the Greek government for the preservation of public health, have been forwarded to the Holy Archdiocese of Crete and the Holy Dioceses for their immediate implementation.
It adds that the Archdiocese of Crete implements the extraordinary measures “and does not identify with any conspiracy theories, which are spread and based upon uncritical and unsubstantiated assumptions aiming to create confusion”.
It also cites the statement of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who had pointed out at the beginning of the pandemic that “However, that which is at stake is not our faith – it is the faithful. It is not Christ – it is our Christians. It is not the divine-man – but human beings.”
Read the full announcement issued by the Church of Crete:
The Press Office of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete responsibly informs that all the joint ministerial decisions issued by the Greek government, regarding the extraordinary measures to safeguard public health and prevent the spread of COVID-19, have been forwarded by the chief secretary to the Holy Archdiocese of Crete and the Holy Dioceses of the Church of Crete for their immediate implementation, by order of Archbishop Eirinaios of Crete, who chairs the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete.
The Church of Crete, as it has already stated as a synod with its unanimous decisions and announcements, implements the extraordinary measures taken by the Greek government in order to preserve the good of public health and to avoid the spread of COVID-19 and does not identify with any conspiracy theories, which are spread and based upon uncritical and unsubstantiated assumptions that aim to create confusion.
In all the dioceses of Crete, with the appropriate instructions and orders of the local shepherds, the foreseen measures are applied in an exemplary manner, with prudence and understanding, and with the acceptance and cooperation of the vast majority of the faithful. This, in fact, was proved at the great feasts in August, during which the attendance of a large number of believers took place in compliance with the measures.
The Church of Crete will always contribute to the observance of the necessary measures, with responsibility and prudence, which experts suggest to avoid the spread of the pandemic, emphasizing what our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said since the beginning of this ordeal “However, that which is at stake is not our faith – it is the faithful. It is not Christ – it is our Christians. It is not the divine-man – but human beings.”