The indefinite closure of the church of Agios Athanasios in Kalymnos was decided by the Metropolitan of Leros, Kalymnos and Astypalea Paisios, who also suspended the priest of the church for two months from his duties.
According to “To Vima”, the occasion was the attitude of the specific priest who invited the faithful to enter the church without masks, but also his prompts via the internet against the observance of the measures of the coronavirus.
It should be noted that this is the first such action recorded in Greece since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
In particular, as stated in the announcement of the Diocese: “It is not my intention to close churches and punish clergy, but I am forced by the events that are created daily in the local church and cause the scandal of the pious Kalymnia people. These for the knowledge and compliance of other clergy who resist the Laws of the state and my own humble suggestions “.
In fact, Metropolitan Paisios emphasizes addressing the priest of the church that: “The situation has reached the point of no return. “As a clergyman of the Holy Metropolis, you create a lot of problems at a time when, unfortunately, all of humanity is on its feet, due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.”
Full announcement:
