Istanbul, January 25, 2024
Photo: greeknewsusa.com
The Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople weighed in today on the gay marriage and adoption controversy currently raging in Greece.
Constantinople has dozens of dioceses in Greece, including those on the island of Crete, whose Eparchial Synod also issued a statement last week. The hierarchs of the Church of Greece also unanimously voted against gay marriage and adoption on Tuesday.
And yesterday, the Synod of Constantinople reiterated the Church’s stance against gay marriage. Its communiqué reads:
The Holy and Sacred Synod, convening under the presidency of His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch in its regular session today, Wednesday, January 24, 2024, reminds the pious flock of the All-Holy Ecumenical Throne, in the discussion regarding the establishment of marriage between individuals of the same sex and regarding adoption in Greece, of the binding decision of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church (Crete, June 2016), that “The Church does not allow for her members to contract same-sex unions or any other form of cohabitation apart from marriage,” as “the union of man and woman in Christ,” which “constitutes ‘a small church; or an icon of the Church” (“The Sacrament of Marriage and Its Impediments,” 1.10 and 4).
It is noted at the same time that members of the Church who enter into such forms of cohabitation must be treated with pastoral responsibility and love in Christ.
Meanwhile, government representatives in Greece have made it clear that they intend to legalize gay marriage and adoption regardless of the voice of the Church.
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