Interview With Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos on the Same-Sex Marriage Bill in Greece

Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou calls those who voted for the same-sex "marriage" bill to assume their responsibilities towards the Orthodox people and God. Speaking exclusively to ope.gr and the journalist Demetris Stroumbakos, His Eminence referred to this unprecedented law for Greece. At the same time, he does not hide his sadness for the way in which the final outcome of the vote was interpreted by the International Mass Media.

Below are excerpts of what His Eminence said in the telephone interview:

Metropolitan Hierotheos, with his deeply theological words and his always substantiated opinion, said the following referring to the passing of the bill:

Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos Speaks to Press on the Announcement of the Church of Greece on Same-Sex Marriage and Adoption

When the Archbishop said "no", everyone applauded him, said Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou, a member of the Hierarchy's press committee, speaking to ERT (Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation). The decision was unanimous, there was no objection and no reaction, instead we saw the unity of the Church, he pointed out among other things.

He added that "a text will be drawn up which will be read in the churches, in the sacred temples, on February 4th. It is called 'To the People' and it is customary for the Church to do this for serious matters. She writes a text to inform the people. Subsequently or at the same time, a text with a legal framework and legal content will be drawn up, which will be sent to all members of Parliament."

When asked if the love of the Church also concerns people who have a different sexual preference and live with their partner, he answered:

Announcement by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in Greece

The Holy and Sacred Synod, meeting under the presidency of His All-Holiness in its regular session, today, Wednesday, January 24, 2024, reminds the pious flock of the All-Revered Ecumenical Throne, of the discussion regarding the institutionalization of marriage between individuals of the same sex and adoption in Greece, of the binding Decision of the Holy and Great Synod 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" which is "the union of man and woman in Christ" and which "constitutes 'a small church' or an icon of the Church" (text "The Mystery of Marriage and Its Impediments", I.10 and 4). It is noted at the same time that the members of the Church who enter into such forms of cohabitation must be treated with pastoral responsibility and love in Christ.

From the Archsecretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

 

 

Announcement by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece Regarding Homosexual Marriage and Adoption

The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece convened in an emergency meeting, today, Tuesday, January 23, 2024, with the sole subject of the announced legislation on marriage and "adoption" in favor of same-sex couples.

After the customary prayer, the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy listened to the presentation of His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, on which a dialogue followed, and unanimously expresses the positions of the Church of Greece on the matter, as follows:

1. The theology of the Church on marriage derives from Holy Scripture, the teaching of the Fathers of the Church and the arrangement of the Mystery of Marriage and is clearly seen in the Service of this Mystery.

The purpose of Christian marriage is the creation of a good marriage and family, the development of children as fruits of the love in Christ of the two spouses and their connection to ecclesiastical life.

The Two Sexes and "Sexual Orientations" -- "Same-sex Marriage" and "Adoption" (Two Short Pastoral Essays by Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 The Two Sexes and "Sexual Orientations"

November 29, 2023

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

The Church is in conversation with the world, the people, near and far, with their concerns and their problems, yet within its theology, which is the consensus patrum (that is, the agreement of the Fathers, which was formulated in Synod) it also considers the data of today's science. Therefore, everyone should not have arbitrary and individual interpretations.

One of the topical issues that is discussed especially in our days is the topic of homosexuality and it is often sought, by those who ask us, to express the Church's teaching on this.

However, this topic is both simple and complex. It is simple, because when we refer to the creation of humans there are two sexes, male and female. And it is complex, because there are many and varied "sexual orientations", due to the passions and the differentiation of the movements of the psychic and somatic energies.