Thousands of Greeks returned to church after weeks of staying away as a ban on mass gatherings to curb the spread of the coronavirus was eased.

“I can’t describe my feelings. After two and a half months of quarantine we are in our church again,” said Stella Kasimati, 76. “We are allowed what we were deprived of for two and a half months, going to church and Holy Communion,” she told Reuters.

Orthodox faithful respect social distancing as they attend the first service open for believers following the easing of measures against the spread of the coronavirus in Athens, Greece. — Reuters
Orthodox faithful respect social distancing as they attend the first service open for believers following the easing of measures against the spread of the coronavirus in Athens, Greece. — Reuters

Greeks were not only deprived of weekly congregations but had to spend the highlight of their religious calendar, Easter, which was on April 19, indoors. The lockdown was introduced in mid-March.

Read the full Reuters story here.

Opinion

Editorial

A new deal
Updated 16 Jun, 2026

A new deal

AFTER three and a half months of war between US-Israel and Iran and an acrimonious temporary ceasefire, a genuine...
Charter of economy
16 Jun, 2026

Charter of economy

NO one expected the PTI to accept the government’s invitation to sign a charter of economy; just as few expected...
Hostage seamen
16 Jun, 2026

Hostage seamen

SOME 50 days on, 11 Pakistani nationals are still in Somali pirates’ captivity. Their appeals to the Pakistani and...
Climate choices
Updated 15 Jun, 2026

Climate choices

The country is confronting increasingly volatile weather patterns with consequences for agriculture, infrastructure, public health and economic planning.
Brief opening
15 Jun, 2026

Brief opening

WE have been here before. Throughout the weekend, there was great anticipation that a tentative framework for peace...
Environmental disaster
15 Jun, 2026

Environmental disaster

IT was a heartbreaking sight. A recent news report in these pages carried a picture of a sea turtle lying half ...