Announcements from The Archdiocese & Cypriot Educational Mission (KEA)

A COVID-19 update from the Archdiocese:

From: Archdiocese of Thyateira
Date: 16 October 2020 at 12:32:23 BST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Latest directives on COVID-19

Beloved in the Lord,

Please see below latest directives on Covid-19.

Earlier this week we were in touch about the new regulations which established a national framework for local restrictions in England. Following debate in Parliament, these regulations have come into force, and we wanted to outline how the changes may have an impact on faith and belief communities. We have updated the Guidance for the Safe Use of Places of Worship, and Guidance for Small Marriages and Civil Partnerships, but also thought it would be helpful to provide a brief summary of the changes made and what you will want to consider for your places of worship:

Medium Local Alert Level

High and Very High Local Alert Levels

As you will see from the above we have worked hard across-Whitehall to ensure that all weddings are treated equally whether or not they are legally binding, though we would still strongly encourage those who officiate or undertake faith or belief ceremonies without legal recognition to register their marriage as soon as possible before or after the faith or belief ceremony.

Places of worship remain open for communal prayer at all Local Alert Levels – this is thanks to your continued efforts to ensure your spaces are as safe as possible and adherence to social distancing guidance is maintained.  In coming months it is going to be even more important to continue with what you are doing to ensure we control the spread of the virus and keep your congregants safe.

The regulations also allow a local authority to impose tighter restrictions in their areas to limit the transmission of COVID19. While a Local Authority will have the power to close any venue it considers to be an imminent threat to public health, including a Place of Worship, it will not otherwise be able to vary the rules that now apply to the use of a Place of Worship. However, we recommend that Individual venues continue to work closely with local authorities and consider whether further measures could be brought in to control the transmission of the virus.

Finally, we know that many of you will be planning ahead for Remembrance Sunday. Remembrance Sunday Services can go ahead this year but, due to the pandemic, they will need to be adapted to ensure the safety and security of those attending. We have produced advice for Local Authorities setting out how ceremonies can continue to be held safely, and a press release about the National service at the Cenotaph in London.

From the Office of the Chancellor

 

 

Unfounded rumours about COVID19

Αγαπητοί μας εν Κυρίω,

Δια του παρόντος θα θέλαμε να σας επιστήσουμε την προσοχή σας σχετικά με διάφορες ανυπόστατες φήμες που κυκλοφορούν στο διαδίκτυο ότι η απειλή του κορονοϊού είναι δήθεν ψέμα και συνεπώς τα προστατευτικά μέτρα είναι δήθεν περιττά και περιοριστικά της ατομικής μας ελευθερίας.

Ο κορονοϊός COVID19 συνιστά πραγματική επιδημική απειλή και σκοτώνει, όπως δείχνουν τα καθημερινά επίσημα στοιχεία.

Είναι πολύ επικίνδυνο να μην υπακούμε στις εντολές της κυβέρνησης και να μην τηρούμε τα μέτρα προστασίας γιατί θα είμαστε υπεύθυνοι όχι μόνο για τον κίνδυνο στην δική μας υγεία αλλά και για το κακό που θα προκαλέσουμε στους άλλους από τον δικό μας εγωισμό.

Οι εντολές της Κυβέρνησης, του ΟικουμενικούΠατριαρχείου και της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής πρέπει να τηρούνται απολύτως και εμείς πρέπει να δίνουμε το καλό παράδειγμα τήρησης των προστατευτικών μέτρων σε όλους όσοι φέρονται ανώριμα και επικίνδυνα για το κοινωνικό σύνολο.

Συνεπώς μην δίνετε βάση σε ανυπόστατες φήμες και μην διαδίδετε άμεσα ή έμμεσα τέτοια επικίνδυνα για σας και τους πλησίον σας μηνύματα. Βοηθείστε ώστε να πεισθούν κυρίως οι νέοι ότι θα πρέπει να συμπεριφερθούν υπεύθυνα ως ώριμοι πολίτες προς το κοινωνικό σύνολο.

Εκ της Πρωτοσυγκελλίας της Αρχιεπισκοπής

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Beloved in the Lord,

We draw your attention to various unfounded rumours circulating on the internet that the threat of the coronavirus is a so-called lie and therefore protective measures are supposedly unnecessary and restrictive of our personal freedom.

The Coronavirus pandemic (COVID19) poses a real threat and, as official figures show, claims many lives daily.

It is indeed very dangerous not to obey the government’s guidelines and observe and implement these protective measures because we are responsible not only for the danger to our own health but also for the harm we cause to others by our own selfishness.

The guidelines given to us by the government, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Archdiocese must be observed to the letter. We must set a good example, fully implementing these protective measures to all those who behave irresponsibly and pose a potential threat to wider society.

Therefore, please disregard these unfounded rumors and do not help the spread of such dangerous messages directly or indirectly. Help to convince young people in particular that they should behave responsibly as mature citizens for the greater good of our society.

From the Office of the Chancellor