Nicosia, Cyprus, December 17, 2020
Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
For the time being, churches remain completely closed to the faithful in Cyprus.
The issue of opening churches and shopping malls was discussed at a session of the Council of Ministers yesterday. Following the meeting, it was announced that, heeding the advice of epidemiologists, churches and malls will remain closed, reports Romfea.
At the same time, it was stated that the issue will be revisited next week.
The Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus met in an extraordinary session on Tuesday to address the state’s new measures. While acknowledging and sympathizing with the state’s responsibility to care for the physical health of its citizens, the hierarchs also firmly stated that the complete closure of churches, especially with the approaching great feasts of Nativity and Theophany, is excessive.
Therefore, the Synod called upon the government to reconsider its decision, at least as concerns Sundays and the Great Feasts. However, according to yesterday’s announcement, the government did not heed the Synod’s call.
His Eminence Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou has declared that he will not enforce or implement any restrictions on Church services in his metropolis, arguing that the law of God is above the law of man.
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