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The Archbishop of Australia, His Eminence Makarios, spoke to the Orthodoxia News Agency and journalist Maria Giachnaki this week, amid the ominous specter of the now global coronavirus pandemic.
In an interview conducted over Skype, His Eminence referred to the preventative measures taken by the Archdiocese of Australia, including the unprecedented closure of cathedrals and chapels to worshippers.
At the same time, Archbishop Makarios expressed his
deep sorrow over the fact that some quarters, in attempting to exploit
the viral outbreak, have attacked the sacrament of the Holy Communion,
underlining the utter futility of people expressing such a view while
being ignorant of the sanctity and meaning of Holy Eucharist.
Additionally, the Archbishop stressed the manner in which Christians face life’s trials, and how they overcome temptations.
«Our Church is not a Church of pain and affliction; it is the Church
of joy, love and triumph over death; pain and every tribulation in life,
for the Christian, is an opportunity to become better, to escape
introversion and selfishness. Our pain allows us to come closer to our
fellow man,» His Eminence emphasized.
