Athens, August 31, 2022
ethnos.gr
The Orthodox faithful of Greece need to be vigilant and to stay away from dubious “exorcism” ceremonies performed outdoors in large cities throughout Greece.
The Synod met in Athens last week under the presidency of Archbishop Ieronymos.
According to the Synodal report published by Romfea, the Church’s warning is in response to recent events of the so-called “Church of the Nations” in Thessaloniki that received wide media coverage.
“The Holy Synod … informs the faithful again, as it has done in the past, that this is an autonomous neo-Pentecostal organization, which holds ceremonies in the center of large cities to impress and attract people,” the statement reads, referring to the group’s “alleged ‘exorcisms.’”
The Synod calls on the faithful to “avoid any participation in these ceremonies.”
According to ethnos.gr, the Church of the Nations carried out three exorcism ceremonies—two in July and one in August—in the center of Thessaloniki, with about 10 “exorcisms” carried out at each event. More events are planned for September.
A representative of the organization, Dimitris Panapakidis, commented: “Our events are Christian. They also include contemporary Christian music, which people like very much, especially young people. Father chose to hold the events, to speak to the world about the message of Christ’s love, of giving, of solidarity. As part of the events, he prayed and performed exorcisms to free people from demons.”
The “priest,” Charalambos Tsakonidis “didn't want to carry the label of any denomination, so that he would be open to all people, Christians and non-Christians,” Panapakidis explained.
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