ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the impact and the diverse consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic within the realm of ‘Greek Orthodoxy’ by focusing especially on the churches of Greece and Cyprus. First, we investigate the attitudes, responses, and reactions of the involved churches towards the various facets and phases of the pandemic. Second, our research also covers the area of ‘lived religion’ by exploring the religious practices of active believers and their responses to the transformations and innovations in their religious habits due to the pandemic and towards official church policies. Using Lefebvre's ‘rhythmanalysis’, we concentrate on the phenomenon of ‘ritual arrhythmia’ that resulted not only in the disruption of ritual life, but also in ritual transformation and innovation. By combining these two different strands of research, we aim to provide a more holistic picture of what ‘pandemic Orthodoxy’ looked like in our specific contexts.
