Archbishop Eugenios of Crete responded following a service to a recent provision introduced by the Greek government, calling for its immediate withdrawal and affirming the Church of Crete’s full canonical dependence on the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Speaking on Sunday, August 25, during the feast day of St. Titus, in the presence of local officials, members of parliament, civic leaders, and a large congregation, the Archbishop expressed deep concern over the provision, which he said undermines the Church’s self-governance by restricting the reassignment of Metropolitans to vacant dioceses.
“We cannot accept that, in the self-governed status of our Church, there will be external interventions every so often,” Archbishop Eugenios declared, emphasizing that the Church of Crete’s Statute, established in 1961, “must remain intact and inviolable.”
The Archbishop clarified that the Church of Crete is an integral part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and maintains full canonical dependence on it. He confirmed he had informed Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of the matter and expressed confidence that the state would correct its “mistake.”
According to local media, Archbishop Eugenios also thanked the Association of Clergy of Crete and all priests for standing alongside the Church leadership in this matter. He stressed that the Church’s efforts are not about preserving privileges but about safeguarding its principles and rightful autonomy.
“I apologize to our local leaders if I ‘poison’ your ears,” he said, “but we cannot hide the truth. And we cannot accept interventions that undermine the very body of our Church. Those who made this mistake should reverse course and correct it as soon as possible.”
He reassured the faithful that the Church’s spiritual leadership has no personal agendas or self-interest: “Our only desire is to walk in the footsteps of our First Shepherd, soberly, justly, and devoutly, so that God’s will, not that of the Archbishop or anyone else, prevails in the life of the Church.”
The Archbishop concluded by urging unity among clergy, faithful, and civil authorities, stressing the need for “cohesion and calm in times of confusion,” so that the Church of Crete can continue its mission without distraction.
Behind the Dispute
The ongoing controversy surrounding the election of a new Metropolitan of Kydonia and Apokoronas has exposed deep tensions between the Church of Crete, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the Greek state.
The dispute centers on an effort by the Ecumenical Patriarchate to abolish the transfer system (metathetó), a move seen as a way to prevent the transfer of Metropolitan Amphilochios of Kissamos, considered the leading candidate for the position, to the Metropolis of Kydonia.
The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete convened for more than five hours but was unable to reach a decision on the election of a new Metropolitan. Before the session began, the Ecumenical Patriarchate sent a formal letter to Synod members, cautioning against electing a new hierarch through transfer from another Metropolis.
According to reports, the letter sparked intense debate, with Synod members unable to reach consensus, a sign of deep divisions over how to proceed, especially in light of the Patriarchate’s explicit guidance.
In a public statement, the Church of Crete condemned “interventions by various institutional actors aimed at preventing the election of a particular candidate as Metropolitan of Kydonia and Apokoronas.”
The statement also criticized what it called an attempt by the Greek state to interfere in ecclesiastical matters, referring to a recent amendment added to a Defense Ministry bill that allegedly misinterprets the Church of Crete’s Statute.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
