Greek metropolitan excommunicates Minister who said communing is dangerous, Holy Synod overturns his decree

Kalavryta, Greece, May 18, 2020

Photo: vimaorthodoxias.gr Photo: vimaorthodoxias.gr     

Having threatened to excommunicate Greek Minister of Education Niki Kerameus for her public statements about the coronavirus being spread through the act of communing of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, His Eminence Ambrose, the retired Metropolitan of Kalavryta, proceeded to do so after the Divine Liturgy yesterday, May 17.

However, his decision was not supported by the hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.

On April 30, Kerameus stated on Greek television that it is scientifically proven that the coronavirus can be spread through saliva, and thus it is dangerous to take Holy Communion. This statement is “not only heretical, from a theological point of view, but also destructive for the conscience of Orthodox Christians!” Met. Ambrose believes.

Following the Sunday Liturgy, His Eminence read out the excommunication of Minister Keramaeus, as well as Prime Minster Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Deputy Minister of Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias, reports Vima Orthodoxias.

The Prime Minister is accused of blaspheming Christ and referring to the clergy as “chickens,” and Minister Hardalias of planning to microchip the people—preparing for the coming of the antichrist. It is widely reported that both of these accusations are fake news, while the Metropolitan counters that the Ministers themselves have never denied them.

His public proclamation came on the same day that the Greek faithful were first allowed to return to Divine services.

The same day, the Holy Synod announced that it considers the excommunication to be non-existent and powerless.

“Only the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece … has the authority to impose an excommunication against a member of the Orthodox Church of Greece,” the Synod stated.

In a blog posting made after the Sunday service, Met. Ambrose noted that societal leaders today do not recognize their mistakes, and so “the axe becomes necessary as a pedagogical tool!”

Scientific “experts” may have one view, the Metropolitan emphasizes, but the only experts in Divine worship are the hierarchs and clergy.

Met. Ambrose also notes that he sent two letters to Minister Kerameus, entreating her to publicly recant her statements, before he pronounced the excommunication. It was done, “not out of hatred, not out of malice, but out of love! Out of love for Christ, who was PROHIBITED!” the hierarch emphasizes.

His Eminence ends his posting after the excommunication noting that he hopes his actions will “stir the stagnant waters” and cause people to wake up.

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5/18/2020

Comments
Alexander Leitner5/18/2020 9:27 pm
Bravo...what a brave Hierarch! Greece is not an orthodox Country anymore. But the greek church does not see it
A Greek of Constantinople.5/18/2020 8:00 pm
Even as the Holy Synod tries to claim this excommunication is null because it was done unilaterally. The fact remains that they were excommunicated. Come to think about it, it is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, to believe and proclaim that any disease can be spread by Holy Communion. If you believe that disease can be spread by the body and blood of Christ, then you are not a Christian in the first place, so what is the big "fuss" that you are excommunicated anyway? You have placed yourself outside the Church, and that is what excommunication is.. Placing you outside the Church. Besides, they probably deserved it given the "crackdown" on Easter. Which gave the opportunity to every atheist and antichrist out there to report priests and Churches to send the police for having liturgy on loud speakers. As if "Christ is Risen" which is proclaimed through loudspeakers would transmit coronavirus. It is a provocation, especially when no one intervened when the Muslims in Greece (illegal and legal) had their imams shouting off the top of their minarets using loudspeakers before, during, and after Easter. Civilized conduct and acceptance is not a one way street, the false belief that Christians must accept to humble themselves and sustain what ever humiliation and persecution thrown their way is idiotic. So let this be a warning to politicians, atheists, antichrists, etc, that dirty tricks and attacks against our Faith have consequences. I think, the Holy Synod of Greece should ratify the excommunication just to stick it to them. Either way, the excommunication itself can be lifted through a public statement of repentance and confession of Faith. But, I assure you politicians are "chickens" and are afraid to lose face.. and voters. God Willed It!
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