Kalavryta, Greece, May 18, 2020
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.
