Churches and monasteries throughout Greece were closed by the authorities on March 16. Thus, the faithful were not able to gather as one Body to celebrate the feast of the Lord’s Resurrection on April 19. At its April 1 session, the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church decided to transfer the public celebration of Holy Pascha to the leavetaking of the feast on the night of May 26-27, pending the reopening of the churches. By the grace of God, the churches were reopened and parishioners were allowed to return to the Divine services beginning May 17.

Thus, Christ’s Resurrection from the dead was publicly and solemnly celebrated throughout Greece last night, on the final day of the Paschal season before the feast of the Lord’s Ascension. His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation in Athens.

In most churches, the service was celebrated exactly as on Pascha night, with the chanting of “Come receive the light,” the Paschal Gospel reading, and the catechetical homily of St. John Chrysostom. The faithful gathered both in the churches and in the courtyards despite inclement weather, as per continuing sanitary guidelines, solemnly chanting “Christ is Risen” for the last time this year, reports Orthodoxia.info. The Holy Fire from Jerusalem was also distributed to the faithful in churches and monasteries throughout Greece. (Quelle: www.orthochristian.com, 27. Mai 2020)