Toronto Public Health (TPH) has issued revised COVID-19 guidelines that ban the offering of Holy Communion to the faithful.
The new guidelines state that suspended services include "Communion and other close contact activities."
"Community faith leaders need to carefully consider how and when to re-establish in-person activities. There are many members who are older and/or have health conditions, which makes them more vulnerable to serious illness from COVID-19. This guidance document reflects the need to protect everyone from COVID-19," the guidance reads.
The revised guidelines also limit participation in services to no more than 30% of the capacity of the premises, to allow for physical distancing.
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto released a video of Sunday’s Divine Liturgy on July 5 from the Church of St. Nicholas in Toronto, where Fr. Fanourios Pappas, emotionally announced the new bans imposed by the Canadian government.
[su_youtube_advanced url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=722q4BSITCc" width="300" height="200" theme="light" title=" No Communion Allowed"]
"My brethren, today, I have a great sadness. Last night, we were told from our Archdiocese that the city of Toronto forbade Holy Communion for the area of Toronto, and it looks like the persecution of the Church continues. I have no words to express my disappointment and my sadness. And I feel that I cannot share with you today any sermon because I feel that I cannot talk about faith, about Christ. I feel that at this moment I only want to ask God to forgive us, to forgive our little faith, to forgive our weakness, to forgive us because we are not worthy to keep the great blessing of the Orthodox faith," Fr. Fanourios stated.
“So, today no one will receive the Holy Communion, until further notice," he concluded.
It is recalled that a few weeks ago, Archbishop Sotirios of Canada said that he would make no comments on Holy Communion without first obtaining instructions from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
UPDATE: An announcement was released by Archbishop Sotirios regarding the protocol for communion in accordance with public health advice.
The statement notes that Holy Communion should take place as described below:
*Update as of July 31, 2020
This post was last modified on August 1, 2020 12:38 am