Following the proclamation of the President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis, Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus announced that church services would be performed with the doors open from Monday, the 4th of May, with up to 10 people being allowed to attend.
Moreover, churches will be open daily from 7.30 a.m. until 6.30 p.m. On the days when the morning services will be performed, churches will be open from 6:30 a.m. Church services will be performed with the doors open. Church commissioners will make sure that the number of the congregation does not exceed 10 people. However, during a church service, the faithful are allowed to venerate the icons, light a candle, write down the names of the people they wish to be commemorated, pray, hold a memorial service. There will be a commemorative list on the donation box of the church for anyone, who wishes to write down the names of living and reposed to be commemorated.
The faithful who wish to receive Holy Communion can do so by coming to the church from 9.00 to 10.00 am on great holidays and Sundays. Church commissioners will ensure that the total number of attendees in the church for Holy Communion does not exceed 10 people and that the social distancing rules are observed. In other words, every time a believer leaves the church, after having received Holy Communion, another believer will be let into the church and so on. Church Commissioners must also observe the basic rules of hygiene in the church, by constantly cleaning with alcohol the icons and by determining the distance that the faithful must keep.
As for the cemeteries, a priest will be inside the temple and will serve the faithful every day, Sundays included. Finally, memorial services will also be performed.
It is recalled that, following the decision made by Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, churches in Greece will be open from the 4th of May. In particular, churches will be open for individual worship from the 4th of May. The faithful will be able to participate in the Divine Liturgy and other services from Sunday the 17th of May. However, this will be implemented as soon as the Holy Synod and the scientific community agree on strict rules.
