Church of Crete opposes state interference in hierarchs election

The Divine Liturgy in Crete during the celebration of the day of Apostle Titus. In the center - Archbishop Eugenios of Crete. Photo: Orthodoxia News Agency

On August 25, 2025, during the celebration of the Holy Apostle Titus in Heraklion, Archbishop Eugenios of Crete spoke against the new law on the procedure for electing metropolitans during the liturgy in Heraklion, condemning the state's interference in Church affairs. This was reported by the Orthodoxia News Agency.

In his speech, the Archbishop of Crete emphasized that the so-called "interpretative provision" adopted by the Greek Parliament in May 2025 affects the self-governance of the Church of Crete and violates the existing Charter of 1961. According to the archbishop, such a measure actually deprives hierarchs of the right to freely manage internal affairs and "betrays the apostolicity of our Church".

Archbishop Eugenios stressed that the Church of Crete rightfully belongs to the Ecumenical Patriarchate but retains its own self-governance, established over decades. He called the state's attempt to limit election possibilities an interference and urged the authorities to «correct the mistake», adding that it is not about privileges but about protecting principles.

The Minister of Education and Religions, Sofia Zacharaki, earlier stated that the government does not intend to change the election procedure and that the interpretative provision was adopted "at the request of the Ecumenical Patriarchate" and fully complies with canonical law.

At the same time, the archbishop expressed gratitude to the clergy and believers supporting the hierarchy and called for unity. We are not fighting for privileges or acquired rights," he emphasized, "but to preserve the principles and the self-evident truths of the Church of Crete, which is an integral part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate."

On May 8, 2025, the Greek Parliament approved a law with an "interpretative provision" to Article 22 of Law No. 4149/1961, regulating the status of the Church of Crete. The document explicitly prohibits the transfer of metropolitans from one see to another, which caused a sharp reaction from the hierarchs of Crete. According to the Ministry of Education and Religions, the provision was adopted "at the request of the Ecumenical Patriarchate" and is claimed to "fully comply with canonical law".

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the opposition in Greece demands the repeal of the law on the elections of metropolitans of the Church of Crete.

Read also