The first reported cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Greece, in combination with the announcement issued by the Ministry of Health for all mass gathering in Greece, creates exceptional and unforeseeable circumstances.
Following this, the Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, by order of the Director-General, Metropolitan Agathangelos of Fanari, for preventive reasons: suspends until Easter the operation of the Catechetical School, the Catechism Training School, Missionary Seminar, School of Sign Language; cancels the classes of Greek language at the University of Rome; cancels the pilgrimage visit to the Schools in Achaia; cancels the Greek language summer teaching program for the students of the Balamand Theological School in Lebanon and the Roman Catholic students from various countries of the world; postpones the reception of the holy relic of Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia.
These measures are part of efforts to raise awareness and individual responsibility, and especially for organizations that organize activities involving mass gathering or movement of staff and guest students.