COVID-19 IN GREECE: FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S CLASH WITH THE GREEK CHURCH TO THE DIFFUSION OF ANTI-MASK SUPPORTERS

By March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had reached Greece, forcing the Greek government to enforce lockdown for two months. While governmental measures included banning citizens' mobility, except for a six-bullets catalogue, the church was excluded, remaining open for its believers. That resulted in an official clash, having on the one side, the state and the scientists, while on the other was the official church. After the decline in the number of COVID-19 cases during the summer period, the governmental decision of enforcing the use of masks indoors triggered the rise of anti-systemic and anti-governmental rhetoric. Having the above in mind, we aim to apply a grounded theory methodology, drawing our data from two derivations: the official announcements of the church and the Greek government during the examined period; and the scientific approach to the Church's and anti-mask supporters stand. Consequently, our main research question attempts to answer how the anti-systemic rhetoric of Greek society has been transformed during the pandemic crisis.