Greek metropolitan: A council cannot be Pan-Orthodox unless all bishops vote

Holy Synod of the Church of Greece. Photo: Romfea

Metropolitan Symeon of Nea Smyrni strongly protested the fact that not all bishops would have the right to vote at the Pan-Orthodox Council. He stated this in an appeal to the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, Romfea reports.

“A council cannot be considered Holy and Pan-Orthodox if not all bishops take part in it, but only the Primates of the Local Churches, even with impressive delegations. Reducing the number of participating bishops diminishes the authority of the Council,” Metropolitan Symeon noted.

In his view, the fact that the Council will take into account one vote from each Church, rather than the votes of all bishops, runs counter to democratic Orthodoxy.

The hierarch expressed regret that the upcoming Council would not address significant issues troubling Orthodoxy, such as the question of the diptychs, autocephaly and the manner of its proclamation, and the calendar issue.

He also stated that he did not wish to take part in the delegation of 24 bishops who would accompany Archbishop Ieronymos and represent the Church of Greece at the Pan-Orthodox Council.

In his opinion, the delegates should be elected at the Bishops’ Council of the Church of Greece by secret ballot.

Representatives of the Churches of Cyprus, Georgia, Greece and Bulgaria had previously criticized issues related to the Pan-Orthodox Council.

Earlier, the Greek metropolitan warned that Orthodoxy would split if Pan-Orthodox Council legitimized ecumenism.

Read also