Meanwhile, residents of the 36 suburbs going into lockdown will not be able to leave home for reasons other than the designated four - shopping for food and supplies, care and caregiving, exercise, and study or work – if it can’t be done from home.
Highlights
- Seven Greek Orthodox Churches in suburbs facing re-imposed stay-at-home orders will be temporarily closed to the faithful.
- As per the Archdiocese’s announcement, services will still be conducted, while specific advice has been issued in relation to sacraments and funerals.
- Residents of areas designated to go under lockdown will not be allowed to physically attend church services regardless, with only four reasons permitted to leave home.
The closure decision affects the following churches:
1. Holy Trinity, Footscray,
2. St Paraskevi, St Albans,
3. St Dimitrios, Ascot Vale,
4. Panagia Soumela, East Keilor,
5. St Vasilios, Brunswick,
6. St Eleftherios, Brunswick,
7. St Nektarios, Fawkner.
Doors will remain closed to parishioners until further notice in these churches.
However, services will be conducted as per normal with only the parish priest and chanter present, as clarified in the Communique which has been addressed to the Assistant Bishop to the Archbishop in Melbourne, His Grace Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis and the Archdiocesan Vicar of the Northcote district Archimandrite Eumenios.
In relation to sacraments and funerals, “it is recommended, when possible, for these [services] to take place in other temples, otherwise, to be held within a strictly close family environment."
In the concluding statement of the announcement, Archbishop Makarios makes a plea to the faithful to follow the designated guidelines and urges them to intensify prayers.
Attending church services is not amongst the four exclusive reasons listed for Victorians in Melbourne’s 10 lockdown areas to be able to leave home.
Re-imposed stay-at-home restrictions, coming into effect from today, Wednesday, midnight, affect suburbs falling under the following postcodes: 3012, 3021, 3032, 3038, 3042, 3046, 3047, 3055, 3060, 3064.
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