Corfu, Greece, October 30, 2020
Updated October 30, 5:20 PM
On October 21, His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu of the Orthodox Church of Greece was acquitted on two charges of allegedly violating COVID-19 quarantine restrictions.
Yesterday, Corfu Prosecutor of First Instance D. Lampridis filed an appeal against His Eminence’s acquittal in the charge stemming from Palm Sunday celebrations, when five people were involved in a procession with the relics of St. Spyridon inside the church where the Metropolitan was serving, reports Romfea.
Met. Nektarios’ trial began on Monday October 19, and on Wednesday morning, he was acquitted of misdemeanor charges connected with his homily on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25, in which he encouraged the faithful to continue going to church and receiving Holy Communion despite the pandemic situation.
His trial continued that day on the second charge, stemming from his celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday in which he communed about 20 people, after which the procession with the relics of St. Spyridon was held.
After the successful conclusion of his trial, the hierarch immediately went to venerate the relics of St. Spyridon, thanking the saint with tears in his eyes as the bells of the church rang out joyfully.
Having learned of the appeal, Met. Nektarios commented:
From the beginning, I was and remain at the disposal of the Greek justice system, which I respect and trust, which I proved it with my personal presence in my recent trials.
The Prosecutor of the Corfu Court of First Instance appealed, as he is entitled by law, against my acquittal in the case of the procession of the body of St. Spyridon on Palm Sunday, for legal and substantive reasons.
When the case is retried in the Three-Member Misdemeanor Court, I will, God-willing, be present to testify again to my conscience and to defend the morals, traditions, and responsibility that the Church and the people of Corfu have entrusted to me, but also to reaffirm my respect for the laws of the state.
I thank all those who supported me and continue to support me in various ways. May we all have the blessing of our saint.
Updated to include the comments of Met. Nektarios
