Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus to sue pro-Phanar media for slander

Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus. Photo: fanarion.blogspot.com

Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus of the Greek Orthodox Church announced he would sue the publication Φῶς Φαναρίου (Light of Phanar – Ed.), which sympathizes with the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Metropolitan Seraphim appealed to Panayotis Andriopoulos, editor-in-chief of the Ὁδιωτική ῶδός and Φῶς Φαναρίου publications, with a warning that he would sue him for libel.

In his letter, the hierarch said that he owes a lot to Patriarch Bartholomew, "and there is no day or time" when he would not mention the patriarch’s love toward his personality.

At the same time, Metropolitan Seraphim writes that "no matter how dear His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch is to me, I, as a bishop of the Church, cannot hide the truth of faith."

“Of course, I accept criticism of my words and deeds but not slander that distorts the truth I am trying to preach,” Vladyka wrote.

According to the bishop, Panayotis Andriopoulos publicly accused him of “taking on the role of defending Russian positions” on the OCU issue and that Metropolitan Seraphim acts “as a hired worker” promoting the position of the Russian Orthodox Church in Greece.

“The accusation you have addressed to me is very serious, and you understand that you have to prove it and assume the legal consequences, because I intend to recourse to criminal justice to defend my honor,” His Eminence said.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that, according to Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus, the split in Orthodoxy was caused by Phanar and geopolitics of the United States. He also said that the Tomos of the OCU is the most tragic event in recent years.

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