Metropolitan Anthimos of Alexandroupolis underlined his respect and compliance with the implementation of government orders to stay home, and referred to the significance of individual prayer.
Speaking on public television ERT, the Metropolitan underlined, “We stay home and pray for the whole world. We will be deprived of and sacrifice our spiritual food for the sake of our brothers so that they will not be infected.”
As he said, “Refraining from attending the Divine Liturgy is hardly restored and replenished, so we will try to help our brothers by praying more.”
Metropolitan Anthimos urged the priests to comply with the behind-closed-doors liturgies and not be tempted to invite even a few faithful to the temple because this would a divisive. “It’s not a hobnob. We must avoid closed Divine Liturgies with few believers. By what criterion will we choose or reject the faithful?”
He also urged everyone to obey the experts’ instructions and stay home to avoid overcrowding. “There will be no Epitaphios procession. The faithful, at the very most, will be on the balcony on Holy Friday and Holy Saturday night.”
Finally, Metropolitan Anthimos commented on the reception of Holy Light and its transfer to the Metropolises of Greece.
“Too much emphasis has been placed on this issue in previous years. The Holy Light is the same light that comes out of every temple on Holy Saturday night, saying the same words and performing the same ritual.”