A letter was sent to the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece by His Eminence, Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira and Antikythira. The letter was sent in response to the decision of the Holy Synod to suspend the priest of the Church of Kythira, Father Nikolaos, who had been accused of "inciting hatred and discrimination against the Greek Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in general.".
In his letter, His Eminence highlights the historical fact that for over 180 years, the icon of Panagia Myrtidiotissa has always been carried in procession on Orthodoxy Sunday in the presence of a large crowd.
Mr. Seraphim then mentions that for the first time this year (March 21, 2021), the procession of the Holy Icon of Myrtidiotissa was disrupted, something that did not happen even during the occupation by the Venetians, English, French, Turks, or Germans.
“There has never been such violence and mistreatment in divine worship and religious freedom rights. What the conquerors did not do was imposed by Greek Orthodox political leaders,” the Metropolitan of Kythira emphasizes in his letter.
It is worth noting that the Metropolitan of Kythira is asking the Church to bring Deputy Minister of Civil Protection Mr. Hardalias, who is “overstepping his bounds,” back into line and to remind him of the decisions regarding the optional nature of vaccinations.
