Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu and Diapontia Islands calls on the Orthodox faithful, who even have the slightest symptom, to avoid participating in the liturgies for as long as it is needed in order to recover.
In an announcement, the Metropolitan provides advice to all vulnerable groups and to those who are ill, saying that “those who cannot go to the church at this time can pray at their home.”
“For our Church the Holy Communion is the Body and Blood of Christ. No disease is transmitted through Holy Communion. But this does not mean that those who are physically ill must go to the church in order to receive the Holy Communion. The canons of the Church provide for those who are ill can receive the Holy Communion by inviting the priest at home or at the hospital. This is a long-established tradition. However, it is a sin to know that one is ill and to insist on putting his fellow human being at risk, not because of the Holy Communion, but because of their attending the liturgy at the temple. The canons provide for sanctions for those who do not respect their fellow human beings on the pretext of devoutness.
In the same announcement, the Metropolitan informs the faithful that all scheduled church and parish activities, catechetical congregations, events, speeches, which require public gatherings, will be suspended until March 25.
Divine Liturgies on Sundays and on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, the Rejoicings (Chairetismoi) liturgies on Fridays and the Vespers on Sundays will be held at the Saint Spyridon Church.
Source: ANA-MPA