We went out on the balconies and applauded twice the heroes in white and green t-shirts, the doctors and nurses who for about a month and a half have been giving a commendable fight in the hospitals of the whole country in order to treat patients infected with the pandemic. coronavirus, forgetting work hours, family and fatigue. We also went out and applauded the hero of the National Resistance, Manolis Glezos, when he passed away, as a sign of gratitude for what he offered in difficult times for the place.
Now we are ready to go out on the balconies again next week in order to experience a Resurrection that will be completely different from the ones we had lived through all the previous years. Those of us who used to leave these days from the urban fabric of the territory will not try for obvious reasons, but in the cities we are in we will not be present, of course, nor in the holy temples which are anyway sealed for all the faithful under the fear of an outbreak of his cases Covid-19. Nevertheless, there are many who promise that Resurrection of 2020 will be etched in our minds forever and we will have to discuss it for several years.
Shortly before midnight on Holy Saturday, it is considered certain that everyone will have their television receivers open to watch the Divine Liturgy and shortly before the bells ring joyfully, the priests estimate that it is very likely that everyone will go out on the balconies with lighted lamps. hands, chanting "Christ is risen from the dead." The relevant calls will start in the middle of it Holy Week through social media and possibly with announcements so that a wider all-night atmosphere can be created. In the dark, a pandemic is expected even from people who may not have been present in the church until today, while it is estimated that it will be a moment of relief for the population after 34 days that will have been completed since the measures were imposed. traffic restriction.
With reference to Holy light His arrival from the Holy Land in Greece will take place normally this year as well. Following a meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Konstantinos Vlasis and the Exarch of the Holy Sepulcher, Archimandrite Damianos, it was decided to fly from Eleusis to Tel Aviv a C-27 military aircraft with the fewest possible passengers. Tomb and representative of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens). But no one will get off the train.
The Holy Light will be received at the Israeli airport the Holy Light and the Air Force aircraft will return directly to the international airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" which will be welcomed by the Deputy Foreign Minister. Guided by the protection of public safety, the ceremony will be very simple, without red carpets and without the presence of well-wishers of the Presidential Guard. It will then be flown to churches across the country on scheduled Aegean flights.
Several municipalities throughout the country, such as Elliniko - Argyroupoli, planned with the help of a network of volunteers and the Municipal Police to carry the Christian Tradition of the Resurrection Light to every home, without giving a single resident - faithful present outside a sacred temple. The mayor himself, Mr. Giannis Konstantatos, had mentioned that whoever wanted it, could go out to the entrance of his apartment building (at a specific time per street based on an announcement he would issue) to receive the Light from volunteers wearing masks and gloves.
Of course, in detached houses or in those where we have 4 or 5 apartments, there might not be a security issue. But what would happen in large apartment buildings that have 40 or more apartments? If so many occupants came out at the entrance, everyone realizes that there was a problem since no one guarantees that the safety distances will always be observed. For this reason, the Deputy Minister of Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalias, clarified that the transfer of the Holy Light home cannot be allowed, as in this way any efforts to limit the spread of the virus would be canceled. "We can not allow the transfer of the Holy Light. "Images of hundreds of city officials on the streets pose a risk of spreading the virus," he said.
The way other municipalities have found, such as Alexandroupolis, Kranidi, Distomo and other areas, is different. They call on the citizens to leave outside their door a lantern, or even a glass jar with a tealight, in order to stay in the Light without the few volunteers coming into contact with the population.