The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has issued new guidelines on how priests at Greek Orthodox churches can safely dispense communion, with one method including the switch to disposable spoons for communion, according to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
In the Communiqué, the Holy Synod affirms that the “Mystery of the Divine Eucharist is non-negotiable,” and “the Church remains steadfast and immovable in its teaching towards the essence of the Mystery of Holy Communion.”
The Communiqué further states: “At the same time, the Mother Church, mindful of the special needs of Her children in the Diaspora, urges the Chief Shepherds who serve in the Diaspora that with a pastoral sensitivity, responsibility, and consciousness, to temporarily make, by economia, accommodations to problematic situations that arise from local laws of the State for the greater spiritual benefit of the Christian people, always in coordination with the Sacred Center at the Phanar.”
Amidst the continuing or even rising increase of COVID 19 spread in the USA, in its wisdom, the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has offered the liberty to the priests to address this emergency situation by temporarily distributing Holy Communion using multiple spoons that are dedicated for only that purpose and belonging to the local parish, an accommodation mindful of the special needs of the faithful in the Diaspora and with “pastoral sensitivity, responsibility, and consciousness”.
