Greek Orthodox Church Declares Coronavirus Not Transmitted by Communion

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PeterT

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The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece issued a statement on Monday referring to the Covid19 coronavirus outbreak, maintaining that Holy Communion does not transmit the virus.

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”For the members of the Church, attending the Holy Eucharist … certainly cannot be a cause of disease transmission,” the Holy Synod declared in its statement.

”Faithful of all ages know that coming to receive Holy Communion, even in the midst of a pandemic, is both a practical affirmation of self-surrender to the Living God, and an apparent manifestation of love,” the Greek Orthodox Church averred.
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The Church’s declaration included a series of self-protection measures that all people should follow, including frequent handwashing and the use of antiseptic products as well as parishioners keeping a personal distance from one another.

So you can still contract it in the Liturgy, “just not from Eucharist”?

They can test this if they want. Personally, I’m convinced that if the bread and wine can be contaminated pre-confection, the accidents will remain so post-confection.
 
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Doesn’t everyone receive from the same golden spoon in the Greek Divine Liturgy? So hundreds or thousands of people will have the same spoon in their mouth, and their bishops are adamant that infection is impossible? Even if we accept that God will intervene to ensure the Eucharist isn’t contaminated, is the spoon supernaturally protected too? I am not being sarcastic… I’m just a little flabbergasted.
 
most/many eastern churches do not put the spoon in the mouth.

The head is tilted back, mouth open, tongue inside, and the Eucharist is dropped into the mouth with a flick of the spoon.

The Phoenix Eparchy’s instructions for the moment actually call for changing spoons if contact is made.
 
My parish has given specific instructions when it comes to receiving the Eucharist during this public health crisis such as only approaching the Chalice if you are healthy (as I assume many Roman Catholic Churches are giving similar instructions).

ZP
 
ziapueblo said:
My parish has given specific instructions when it comes to receiving the Eucharist during this public health crisis such as only approaching the Chalice if you are healthy (as I assume many Roman Catholic Churches are giving similar instructions).

ZP
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All parishes I’m aware of have removed the option of receiving from the chalice.
 
In the Byzantine context, the “chalice” means receiving communion in general. The Lamb (Host) and precious blood are together in the chalice, and given to the faithful with a special spoon.
 
And the Melkites usually don’t use a spoon anyway. Even if the assertion that receiving Holy Communion doesn’t spread Coronavirus is true, the priest who is Distributing Holy Communion, may still be coming in contact with people who have Coronavirus. It does not change the fact that a disease spreads.
 
No “usually” about it with the Melkites; they haven’t used a spoon for a couple o centuries.
 
I have seen this argument before from Eastern Orthodox sources: The Sacred Body and the Precious Blood cannot be the means by which disease is transmitted. That is what they believe.

It is not what Catholics believe. We believe that the substance changes to the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. However, the accidents remain. Therefore, it is possible the the administration of communion can be a means of transmitting COVID-19 and other pathogens.
 
I still think it’s completely possible, for those receiving communion, to get some sort of communicable disease of some kind. The Orthodox church, can say otherwise all they want, but coming into contact with someone who has it, can still spread disease. I get that they’re trying to reassure the faithful, and that’s commendable, but I also think they might be putting a lot of people at risk.
 
“May the partaking of your Holy Mysteries, oh Lord, be not for my judgement nor condemnation, but for the healing of soul and body”

We pray it during the Liturgy, so maybe we should start to believe it. It seems unlikely to me that a sacrament that heals soul and body would transmit a deadly disease.
 
The sacrament is not the problem, it’s people in a gathering, people can become ill if sneezed on or someone ill was in the pews before them.
 
I can understand asking sick people not to attend, and even asking people to refrain from kissing icons, shaking hands, etc., but the sacraments need to be kept available.

Besides, our spiritual health is more important than our physical health. If I am at risk for attending Divine Liturgy, so be it. I’m still going to attend.
 
It’s not an individual person’s risk. “Your Risk” is truly a community risk. Doing as you please puts other individuals at risk.
 
But spiritual healing is not necessarily physical healing. I can (and do) believe, that the Eucharist really is the most holy body of our Lord, and his Precious Blood, that does not change the reality of how disease spreads.
 
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Basically everyone runs their hands along the back of the pew as they enter and exit their seats.
 
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