Kalavryta, Greece, May 25, 2020
The idea that the excommunication pronounced by His Eminence Ambrose, the retired Metropolitan of Kalavryta against the Greek Ministers of Education and of Civil Protection and the Prime Minister are “powerless and non-existent” is “completely untenable” and “false,” the Metropolitan writes in a new statement, published on Romfea and other Greek outlets.
Following the Divine Liturgy on May 17, Met. Ambrose, who retired last year, pronounced an excommunication against the Ministers who he believes spoke blasphemously about Holy Communion and the Church. In particular, Minister of Education Niki Kerameus publicly stated on Greek television that it is scientifically proven that the coronavirus can be spread through saliva, and thus it is dangerous for parishioners to take Holy Communion together.
However, a statement from the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece issued the same day pronounced the Metropolitan’s decree to be “powerless and non-existent,” arguing that only the Synod can excommunicate someone. A number of hierarchs later made separate statements in support of the Synod’s statement.
It is notable that among these hierarchs was His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus who, like Met. Ambrose, is regarded as a fiery and staunch defender of Orthodox Tradition. Only the Holy Synod has the responsibility of imposing excommunications he said, and Met. Ambrose had no right to do so.
In his latest statement, Met. Ambrose writes that he has a clear conscience, because he did not make a rash decision, but personally appealed to Minister Kerameus several times, imploring her to rethink and retract her statements.
“We informed her, we taught her, we gave her the opportunity to think more maturely, and finally, we warned her that if she does not recall her blasphemous statement against Holy Communion, there will be serious consequences!” the Metropolitan writes.
Together with his new statement, Met. Ambrose also published the text of his second letter to the Minister.
He also informs the Minister that, “The information that the imposed excommunication is ‘powerless and non-existent,’ which is contained in the announcement of the Holy Synod of May 17, IS COMPLETELY UNTENABLE! The content of this announcement is FALSE!”
He also refers to Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messina who told the press regarding the excommunication that, “We have to discuss serious things, not laugh at each other” a “frivolous prelate.”
However, despite his strong actions, Met. Ambrose assures Minister Kerameus that he bears no malice against her in his soul. “I love and appreciate her! But as a minister of God the Most High, I cannot bear the war against Holy Communion,” he continues.
He concludes by again encouraging the Minister to read his letter and to make a corrective and repentant public statement, “whereupon I will immediately remove the imposed excommunication!”
