Parish fined for Sunday service, diocesan fund will cover the costs, says Greek Metropolitan of Mesoagaias

Mesogaias, Greece, December 16, 2020

Photo: ekklisiaonline.gr Photo: ekklisiaonline.gr     

Funds from the diocesan fund to support the poor and needy will be used to pay the fines levied against a parish and its church wardens after a handful of people were found at the Sunday Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Mesogaias announced on Sunday.

It is the people who inform on one another who are the real threat to society, the Metropolitan believes. Further, he calls upon the “most impious citizen” who reported the parish to contribute towards the $2,195 in fines.

Earlier this month, Met. Nicholas made a heartfelt plea for the churches in Greece to reopen. “The oxygen of our Divine worship is much more necessary than the oxygen of our breath,” he said. “We need breath. We are suffocating!”

Met. Nicholas’ new statement reads:

Today, Sunday, December 13, 2020, after a most impious citizen filed a complaint against the church in Koropi, the police were forced to impose a fine of $1,830 (1,500 euros) on the church and $365 (300 euros) on the church warden, because there was a handful of people there to honor our Lord on Sunday on a space of 500 square meters.

The police intervened after the Divine Liturgy. The priest and wardens were detained right there in the church.

We understand the actions of the police, who are obliged to comply with the laws and decisions of the Ministers.

We absolutely do not understand the absurdity of the government’s actions, introducing illogical, crazy, anti-people, and absolutely impious measures that humiliate the people and the Church.

The fine should have been imposed on the person who filed this impious complaint, having no profit or interest, as there was no threat to public health, but only hatred of the Church, which was unfortunately legalized by the state. This is the kind of people who pose a threat to society, not the simple faithful who turn to the Lord as their last refuge in such difficult times.

We declare that our churches will continue to hold services in compliance with the rules of health protection that apply everywhere. We will serve with respect for logic and society, and any potential fines that may be imposed for violating the sinful legislative measures will be paid for from our Metropolis’ fund for the poor and needy. Everything we’ve received from our parishioners to support the poor will now go towards fines. The time has come when, besides the faithful, even the poor will be punished… It’s unheard of.

We call upon the person who filed the complaint and accused the faithful of a crime, who weren’t bothering anyone, to contribute at least something to the Metropolis’ fund for the poor, and may the Lord forgive him for his sin!

Blessed Nativity!

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12/16/2020

See also
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Comments
John12/16/2020 4:57 pm
This is how our hierarchs everywhere SHOULD be dealing with this. Pay every fine (and contest them in court) but stay open! Why is the hymn to the Martyrs sung at ordinations if our clergy are not called to be martyrs if the situation arises?
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