As the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc around the world, Orthodox Christian clerics in a number of countries are ignoring the advice of global health organizations and officials by insisting that it is still safe to sip communion wine from shared spoons.

While religious gatherings have already aided the proliferation of the virus in South Korea and Iran, faith groups around the world are still struggling to come up with cohesive responses to the crisis.

Orthodox churches in countries including Greece, Georgia and Russia, however, have taken a more uniform approach, based upon the belief that sacramental wine transforms into the blood of Christ during the communion rite. Health officials say their actions are making churches and religious services potential vectors for mass transmission. 

“We believe that no disease or illness can exist in Holy Communion, which we believe is the body and blood of Christ,” Steven Scoutas, spokesperson for the Greek Orthodox Church of Australia told the national broadcaster ABC over the weekend.