Κεκλεισμένων των θυρών και χωρίς την παρουσία πιστών θα πραγματοποιηθούν στην περιοχή της Περιφερειακής ενότητας Δράμας, all the Divine Liturgies of Christmas, of the New Year and the Epiphanies, according to an announcement issued by the Holy Diocese of Drama, despite the fact that according to the new Official Gazette the presence of a certain number of people in the churches is allowed.
The most respected metropolitan of Drama, Mr.. Paul, Nevertheless, decided that the churches should be closed to the faithful and that worship services should be held only with the necessary presence of the clergy and the psalmists.. "This decision is not easy. It hurts me more than anyone. But on the other hand we have to face reality head on. And, in fact, with the required seriousness ", states to liberal.gr and adds that in the prefecture they have lost their lives 200 people from the coronavirus.
The metropolitan of Drama explained the reasons for this decision, stressing that the epidemiological data are extremely aggravating.
Interview with Vassilis Galoupis
– How did you come to this decision?; It is a matter of epidemiological burden in Drama;
This decision is not easy. It hurts me more than anyone. But on the other hand we have to face reality head on. And, in fact, with the required seriousness. The prefecture of Drama, as you will know very well, is inside 10 "Red" prefectures. Apart from this, so far we have surpassed them 200 the dead. The 140 in the hospital of Drama and the rest in the regional hospitals, while one had ended up in Athens who had been transported by C-130.
– Therefore the epidemiological burden played the leading role…
The epidemiological burden in our prefecture is very high. And, in fact, in proportion to the population is very high in Drama, according to the measurements given to me by your fellow journalists. Drama comes second in all of Europe. The capital is a city in Belgium. This issue is very serious and we have to see how we deal with it.
– What is the climate in Drama?;
It is not everything,what the best. And if we take into account that here in our border area we have a special cold, it is difficult in the morning for elderly people to come out to the church and find the door closed.. And in addition, another grief will be created. I can not do that to people.
That is why we decided after consulting with the priests of the metropolis, that the best solution is to perform the sacred services of the feast days ourselves as we performed them. And from 8 the temples are open in the morning and after if a Christian wants to come and light a candle, to take the antidote of the day and go to the wish of Christ and the Virgin without creating crowding problems.
– When you announced your decision you had reactions; Some were taken by surprise;
I have not done any reaction measurement. I think most, because we live the problem and 200 houses in Drama mourn because they have lost their people, they heard it logical. Now there are some people who see things differently and may judge differently. And these people I think, because they do not know how things are, perhaps that is why they express a negative view. On the other, how can a believer say that I will go in and take someone else's place. This is not very Christian.
It scares me because everyone will go through these days with a relative relaxation and oh no wonder if there is an increase in cases after twelve days, there are also the usual enemies of the church who will rush to load the increase of cases in the church. I will not do them this favor, at least for the area of Drama.
Source: liberal.gr
