From tomorrow GCT will be live streaming major church services

As the coronavirus pandemic forces fewer gatherings around the world and in our communities, church parishes are live streaming services, bringing the church into everyones home.

With the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, GCT will be live-streaming the major church services from St Spyridon Parish in Sydney, Australia.

Here are ways to watch the main church services online:

• Greek City Times Youtube
• Greek City Times Facebook

On Thursday, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, Primate of The Greek Orthodox Church in Australia, released an updated statement regarding the coronavirus, announcing that public worship in churches will be suspended.

His Eminence urges the faithful to "show understanding, unity and confidence both in the leadership of our Nation and towards our Holy Archdiocese."

The full text as follows:

Your Graces, beloved fathers and beloved children,

With pain of soul, but at the same time, with a sense of pastoral responsibility on a sensitive matter which concerns public health, I communicate to you that, due to the extraordinary measures that the Federal Government of Australia took to restrict the spread of the Coronavirus, we are compelled to suspend public worship in our Churches.

This means that from today our Churches will remain closed to the faithful. However, all Services, the feast days of the Saints, and the Divine Liturgies will be conducted only by the Priest and the Chanter. Sacraments and funerals will continue to take place but only in the presence of the immediate family members.

During these difficult times for all of humanity and especially for our country Australia, I urge you to show understanding, unity and confidence both in the Leadership of our Nation and towards our Holy Archdiocese. I call upon you all to pray more. I ask that you place your trust in God. It is a trial that we are experiencing, but we Orthodox know very well that after the Crucifixion comes the Resurrection.

There is need for patience, unity and collaboration. Resurrection will come soon.  With love in Christ,

In Sydney, on the 19^th day of March 2020,

Your Archbishop

† MAKARIOS of Australia