According to a new Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD), the temporary restrictive measures, that apply to churches and places of worship of all religions and denominations, will be extended until the 21st of August due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite the information about the lifting of some of the measures, the recent gatherings at festivals across the country have generated concern among Greek authorities given that too many events would be held by churches in the country until August.
The Standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece will be meeting today in order to deal with the matter.
Measures of JMD that apply to churches
A Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD) of the competent ministries was in force until today, which stipulated the following:
- The maximum number of believers in churches is 100 out of 50 that was before. One person will be allowed to be present per five square meters and not per 10 sq.m. so as to prevent the faithful from overcrowding churches.
- The performing of services, gatherings for worship, rituals, holy mysteries, are allowed under the following conditions with the aim of protecting public health:
a) the maximum number of persons allowed to be present within a place of worship results from the observance of the ratio of one (1) person per five (5) sq.m. of surface area, with a minimum distance of one and a half (1.5) meters between them in all directions
b) if the area of the place of worship exceeds five hundred (500) sq.m., the maximum number of attendees is one hundred (100)
c) all preventive hygiene measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 must be respected