Churches in the middle of a corona: Necessity and action

By George Karoulla, Member of Parliament for DISY Famagusta, Member of the Temporary Committee of the Holy Diocese of Constantia-Famagusta

karoullas giorgos Coronavirus, George Karoullas, Church

By George Karoulla *

No one today can question, even in the slightest, the hitherto indisputable successful management of the Ministry of Health and the government in general with the assistance of the legislature following the scientific team's suggestions for tackling the pandemic, and we owe it to ourselves. this effort. We must also recognize the prudent stance taken by the Archbishop and the majority of the hierarchs from the outset.

This prevented the possible spread of the virus, which could be caused by the interfaith fellowship within the temple. A great example is the situation in the Kiev Lavra, where about ninety monks fell ill and three died. Moreover, the stabilization of the numbers in Cyprus and the downward trend of the confirmed cases observed confirms the above position and forms the framework for drawing a safe conclusion of the gradual relaxation of the restrictive measures.

On this basis, the state has prepared a proposal for a possible gradual easing of the restrictive measures, which is necessary for our survival both as a society and as an economy after the prolonged and perfectly justified quarantine for breaking the transmission chain. The general conclusion based on the publications commented by the society is that for some phase we must learn to live in fear of the transmission of the virus and the functioning of society and the economy on the basis of strict protection measures, and this for as long as necessary, until definitive detoxification from the virus and subsequent measures.

One of the aspects that was affected was that of attending churches. So far, almost complete compliance with the state's measures has been observed, and this is confirmed by the relevant social media views. However, we have also experienced cases of non-compliance with all subsequent repressive, criminal or extrajudicial measures. These two tendencies have inextricably formed schools of thought within the church itself, each with pure intentions to preserve the faith, and I do not mean only among the Hierarchs, but mainly within the Christmas crew of the Church. It is also possible, with what we are experiencing these days, to develop the phenomenon of religious fanaticism among the population with all the negatives that such an unfavorable development can have for our society with the main possible consequence of creating social and political upheavals and perhaps continuing efforts to overcome any position that ultimately weighs on the collective effort to tackle the pandemic.

Because I believe that successful governance should continue and the intensity of the phenomena I describe above should be avoided, the opening of churches should be included, under certain conditions, in the gradual easing of measures, a proposal which was conveyed by the President of the Democratic Alarm, Mr. Averoff. Neophytou to the President of the Republic This development will bring calm among the population and more specifically between the Christmas crew away from any emotion but in pragmatic terms to offer the possibility of partial attendance of believers in our churches.

It is also worth mentioning that through the projections of the sacred services these days on social media has been revealed, and this is quantified, the large number of believers who follow online, which reaches up to tens of thousands in some cases. This finding clearly proves the need that the faithful have, classifying this need as a primary, in "kind of essential need" the giving of thanks to God and the faithful devotion of our people to our faith.

With the above in mind, I have the humble opinion that there is a way for churches to function, in the presence of believers, through the implementation of necessary protection measures. To this end, we consider it necessary for the state to immediately proceed with the inclusion of the gradual opening of churches for believers from the first phase of the relaxation of the measures. In our view, this is possible by taking precautionary measures to eradicate the contagion of the virus in the temples in the model that the state will impose. At the point where we have reached the limit of the virus thanks to the sacrifices of all of us and we must recognize that the risk of transmission will always exist and that we cannot have everything closed indefinitely. In this phase we recognize the need to continue efforts to prevent but also that life must continue and that we must coexist with the virus through strict protection measures while preserving the health of the faithful and our faith.

More specifically, I suggest that as in any temple, arrangements can be made to decongest the attendance. This can be done in different ways depending on the potential of the staff of each church and the population of the faithful of each parish. In other words, operations can be performed daily or day by day so that decongestion is possible only with one operation per week. Sacred temples also have the ability to function more than once a day, especially on Saturdays and Sundays to have the opportunity to do so. Each church may also provide the ability to monitor the procession from the temple precinct to the base of measures as explained below or as the state wanted to impose. In addition, because we are entering a summer season, there may be an incentive for outdoor activities, of course, following the following measures again.

It is also our suggestion to recommend to the elderly and people belonging to vulnerable groups not to come or stay outside the temple.

In addition, for the smooth operation of each temple, I suggest the following so as to ensure the health of the faithful and our faith:

A. Before the operation of the temple

Before the operation of the church under the new conditions and for the smoother and safer reopening of the temples, we suggest that the space be prepared with the following:

  1. Decontamination. It is necessary to make the necessary periodic disinfections based on the relevant protocol and certified disinfectants that will be agreed, both inside and outside the temple with the cooperation of the Local Government Authorities.
  2. Marking. Make the necessary markings on the floor inside the temple, on the floor outside the temple, for keeping distances, on the seats that will be used and at the entrances and exits
  3. Seat marking. Mark the seats that will be used on the basis of the criteria by the scientific committee as well as for their disinfection after each sequence.
  4. Supply of items. Each ecclesiastical committee should take care of the supply of the necessary protective items such as disinfectants, masks, gloves, disposable tissues, markers, plastic tapes, etc.
  5. Determination of maximum quantitative participation of believers. As for the attendance of the faithful in each church, it should be done in proportion to the space, based on the square meters, as defined by the scientific committee. The number of attendance should be determined by subtracting the participants in the service, ie the priest or the priests or Bishop, the psalmists, the nuns and all the persons necessary for each sequence.
  6. Sequence program preparation. The head of each church, in collaboration with the others involved, prepares a program of sacred services which he notifies to the relevant Diocese for approval and announcement. This program should be accompanied by the announcement of the protection measures that will be taken for both the maximum number of participants and instructions for the prevention of transmission.
  7. Arrange the attendance. Because there may be a gathering outside the temples to attend the sacred services and thus increase the number of movements, the church's ecclesiastical committee should make the following arrangements:
    • Informing the faithful with the help of social media and other means for the maximum number of believers who can participate and the protective measures as well as the program of services and
    • operation of a central electronic platform by the Dioceses with a website for each church or e-mail or other means of registration for participation in the sacred services. In this way, the reduction of travel will be controlled even more, since the citizen will be informed about the possibility of participation.
  8. Determining inputs and outputs which will be used and blocking inputs and outputs that will not be used. Because all the temples have more than three entrances (3 plus one or two in the sanctuary), all entrances should be blocked except one. 9. Approval of the operation of the temple. When the above is implemented, then only the head of each church should address the relevant Diocese to inform the competent services of the state for inspection and approval.

B. During the operation of the temple

  1. Entrance to the interior of the temple
    • Entrance to the temple. From the entrance of the church each believer will enter one by one, observing the legal distances outside the temple. Mark the outside of the temple to observe the legal distances.
    • Identity check. With the care of the head of each church to check the identity of the faithful based on the declaration of participation, as described above.
    • Thermometry. It is the responsibility of the ecclesiastical committees to take a thermal measurement before anyone enters the temple, at a point before the entrance.
    • Use of gloves. To offer gloves cleanly with the responsibility and care of the church, and everyone will be required to wear them. These should be given at a point before entry.
    • Protective masks. To offer everyone a protective surgical mask that will necessarily be worn by anyone entering the temple. The supply of masks should be done under the responsibility of each ecclesiastical committee and under the supervision of each Diocese.
    • Use of antiseptic. At the entrance offer antiseptic and put those who enter the temple.
  2. Movement inside the Temple: As soon as the believer enters the Church on the basis of the above, he will be able (not necessarily) to light the candle, he will be able to bow (not necessarily) or to bow his head in the image of Christ and the Virgin Mary. be covered with glass or plastic film. The icons will have glass in front of them and will be cleaned with antiseptic that will be proposed by the Ministry of Health (before the believer worships) and will be indicated by the ecclesiastical commissioner who will sit.
    The movement of believers inside the temple for pilgrimage is prohibited.
  3. Receiving Holy Communion: During Holy Communion, with the care and responsibility of the ecclesiastical committee, one of the church's commissioners will make sure to place the faithful in a row two meters away (basically marking the floor) and one by one he will come to receive and receive his reward which will be wrapped in a tissue (either he will take it himself or it will be given to him by a church official).
  4. Exit from inside the temple: Just as it is important to take steps to get worshipers into the temple, it is also important to take steps to get them out of the temple on a regular basis. For this purpose we suggest:
    1. Use of all costs offered. The entrances, except one, were closed at the entrance to be opened. Ecclesiastical Commissioners undertake to control the exit of the faithful. This reflects the smooth exit from each ledge or row of seats from a specific exit indicated by the priest after dismissal. The exit of each believer from the temple should be done from the nearest exit which is located in his seat. The faithful should be informed about the observance of the distance of two meters from the previous and next believer. The staff of the temple, including the priest, should go out of the exits of the sanctuaries so that they do not come into contact with the faithful.
  5. Participation of believers outside the interior of the temple: In case a believer does not want to enter the temple, there should be a provision for the presence of people and in the courtyard of the temple again on the basis of specific conditions that may be:
    • To offer antiseptic - gloves - masks from the church committee.
    • To place seats in the courtyard of the temple at a distance of two meters from each other.
    • Operating outdoor speakers for the faithful to listen to the service.
    • There should be a special area outside in case the faithful want to light their candle again at the base of distances and markings.
    • Let the Priest go out to the entrance of the temple, at the time of Holy Communion, to communicate with the faithful.

Necessary additional measures

The reward is prepared by a specific person who wears gloves and a mask. This should be offered in disposable bags or wrapped in tissues.

During the Divine Liturgy there should be people from the church staff who are outside the temple to enforce the measures.

As for the chapels, their operation should be governed by the above measures and their operation should be approved as suggested above.

Ecclesiastical commissioners should ensure that these measures are followed during the services.

As for the funerals and Mysteries, again following the above to be carried out on the basis of a code that will be decided by the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus.

Finally, in my view the possibility of the opening of churches in the midst of a coronation must be given due attention beyond the highest theological goal must be by taking specific measures, the faithful to be able to go to church without violating them. decrees and especially without endangering their health.

* George Karoullas, Member of Parliament for DISY Famagusta
Member of the Throne Committee of the Holy Metropolis of Constantia - Famagusta