One year since first pandemic restrictions in Greece sees parishes struggle to continue charitable works

Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of the imposition of the first pandemic-related restrictions in Greece on public assembly, non-essential movement outdoors and much of the retail sector.

The year that passed witnessed strict to looser restrictions on Church-going and religious services, with an additional repercussion – beyond preventing the faithful from worshipping in cathedrals and chapels and partaking in Holy Services – being the economic strain on parishes.

Many parishes in the country are now barely able to cover their non-elastic expenses, while the Church’s charitable work has also been affected.

According to Archimandrite Fr. Nektarios Dardanos, the first secretary of the Holy Metropolis of Hydra, Spetses and Aegina, the Church of Greece’s relevant synodal committee for social welfare and philanthropy annually allocates 100 million euros in all types in philanthropy, with charitable and welfare institutions exceeding 4,000, most staffed by roughly 15,000 volunteers.

In comments to the Orthodoxia News Agency, Fr. Nektarios called for urgent support by the Greek state to parishes in need, for the continuation of their welfare activities.

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