Greek official provokes scandal in country by insulting Holy Theotokos
Elias Mossialos. Photo: facebook.com/DynamikiEllada
Greece's representative to WHO, Professor Elias Mossialos, provoked a scandal in the country by publishing a post insulting the Virgin Mary.
Elias Mossialos posted a picture on his Facebook, showing the Virgin Mary wearing a mask and comparing faith in the coronavirus to faith in the Immaculate Conception of Christ.
The post caused a storm of outrage in Greece. The Holy Synod issued a statement calling Mossialos's act "racist" and noted that "fanatism and lack of respect for the other is not an exclusive characteristic of 'religions' but a characteristic of many people, conservative and progressive".
Archimandrite Agathangelos Giannarakis believes the official "nullifies and offends the religious sentiment of Christians" and "levels our faith under the pretext of freedom of speech".
"But above all he insults and humiliates himself, projecting his atheism as freedom of speech and expression not with arguments but with offensive sketches,” the priest wrote and reminded Mossialos “what happened in France with the post by Charlie Hebdo.”
Ieronymos of Kalavryta said he felt "a sacred indignation" because, in his view, the authorities in the person of Mossialos "once again took off their mask and showed their true face". "They are fighting Christ and our Lady. Shame," the metropolitan said.
As previously reported, the Greek Church urged people to sign up for the temple by phone.
Read also
Kosovo to enact law restricting Serbian Church, experts say
Analysts warn that the new "Law on Foreigners" in Kosovo could restrict the presence of clergy, believers' access to shrines, and increase pressure on the Serbian community.
Congress Speaker: Demand to introduce Sharia law in USA is a serious problem
The Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that there is growing concern in society about attempts to impose Islamic law, which is incompatible with the American Constitution.
UK government introduces restrictions on "anti-Muslim hostility"
UK authorities have adopted a new definition of "Islamophobia" which, according to experts, could provide Muslims with special protection and restrict freedom of speech.
Dumenko brings icon in Church Slavonic to Ministry of Health
Epifaniy presented cardiologists with an Intercession icon, with inscriptions in Church Slavonic, which his structure calls a "sign of the Moscow tradition".
ISIS supporters carries out terrorist attack at anti-Islamic protest in NY
Near the home of New York's Muslim mayor, radicals threw two makeshift bombs at protesters during an anti-Islamic rally.
Hryshchuk: If UOC hands over its church itself, angle grinders aren't needed
An OCU chaplain called on UOC believers to accept the loss of the shrine for the sake of their own "enlightenment".