To the Editor:

Allow me once again to refer to current events, through the newspaper of the Greek Diaspora. Because I believe that when you see something strange, say something. I am referring to the Great Father of our Church, St. John Chrysostom (exiled three times by the Imperial power), who said that it is sad not to complain about public transgressions because you open the way for others to do the same.

In particular, I personally observed while attending church in various communities how Holy Communion is given to those who go up to receive. It is a Great Mystery, that is why the Divine Liturgy is performed. Well:

1) In one church, the priest has a container with many spoons. And he gives Holy Communion to each person with a different spoon.

2) In another church, the priest also has a container with many spoons and he uses a different one for each person, and then after receiving, each person is given a paper towel to wipe his lips and throws it in a nearby container.

3) In another church, before beginning to give Holy Communion, the priest announces: Let those who wish to receive with a different spoon from the previous one come forward first. And then those who wish to receive with the same spoon may come forward.

I think all of the above innovations are being implemented under the pretext of preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the communities. 4) In many churches, the priests continue to give Holy Communion with the established way.

And now I would like to inform you of something admirable and praiseworthy. It happened at St. Paraskevi Church in Greenlawn, Long Island, on Sunday, January 17th. When Fr. John Vlahos was giving Holy Communion to a young child, some of the Communion fell on the floor by accident. The priest stopped immediately, transferred the Holy Cup to the altar, then returned, knelt reverently and licked the Holy Communion from the floor diligently. And then he continued to give Communion to the faithful. Excellent deed and reverence of the priest.

Dimitris Triantafyllis

New York, NY