Larissa, Larissa Region, Greece, February 6, 2024
A Greek cathedral was vandalized over the weekend with blasphemous, violent, and pro-LGBT slogans.
Clergy and faithful arriving to the Cathedral of St. Achillios in Larissa, Greece, on Sunday found the portico of the church spraypainted with various disturbing messages, reports Orthodoxia.info.
The desecration comes amidst the controversy that has been raging in Greece for several months concerning the government’s intentions to legalize gay marriage and adoption by gay couples. Individual hierarchs have been speaking out against the relevant bill daily, and the Holy Synod and Council of Bishops of the Greek Church voiced their opposition to Parliamentary deputies.
Photo: orthodoxia.info
The hierarchs also approved a statement for the edification of the faithful that was read in all churches yesterday, just hours after the act of vandalism against the cathedral under Metropolitan Ieronymos of Larissa, who has been among the outspoken hierarchs, calling on the Church to continue fighting against the bill even if it passes into law.
The vandalism included slogans against Orthodoxy, Greece, and Met. Ieronymos personally. “Greece can die so we can live. To hell with family, religion, and homeland,” they wrote in one place. “No to violence, yes to lesbianism,” they wrote elsewhere.
They also wrote obscenities against the Metropolitan and mocked the image of the Most Holy Theotokos, the beloved Mother of God and of all Orthodox Christians.
“May God forgive them. We are not afraid,” the Metropolitan reacted.
That evening, an event was held at the vandalized church, dedicated to expressing and explaining the Church’s position against the gay marriage bill.
Yesterday, OrthoChristian reported that 140 Greek Orthodox associations came out together against the bill.
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