The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete has decided to postpone the election of the new Metropolitan of Kydonia and Apokoronas.
Hours have passed and still there was no “white smoke” and, in fact, it is not even known whether the hierarchs actually proceeded with the election process, as, according to media sources, discussions on other items of the agenda took place first.
According to the same sources, at one point during the Synod’s session, the legal advisor of the Archdiocese was called to attend, in connection with the extrajudicial notice (official legal document) submitted by Archimandrite Melchisedek.
In its official statement, the Holy Synod emphasized that the election of a new Metropolitan did not take place “for spiritual reasons and for the good of the Church.”
The extrajudicial notice, which arrived at 9:15 a.m., caused significant turmoil. The hierarchs eventually accepted to receive it in order to avoid it being posted publicly on the door. The discussion surrounding its content delayed the proceedings and ultimately halted the process, leading to the indefinite postponement of the election.
However, according to ecclesiastical circles cited by the local press, the “freezing” of the election is not solely due to the extrajudicial notice. There are at least three distinct factions within the Synod that reportedly disagree on how the process should proceed:
- One group insists on a strong confrontation regarding the formation of the triprosopon (the list of three candidates), as there appears to be no consensus on which individuals should comprise it. This side openly supports one specific candidate for Metropolitan and refuses to shift even slightly from that position.
- A second group is said to favor a more relaxed and immediate election, aiming to “close the matter” and restore calm within the Church of Crete.
- A third faction appears to adopt a wait-and-see approach, seeking a new process or further postponement until internal differences are resolved, although it has no objections to the leading candidates for the triprosopo.
These divergent views and internal disagreements, combined with the legal complications caused by the extrajudicial notice, created an explosive atmosphere that ultimately prevented the completion of the election.
Read the Official Announcement of the Holy Synod of the Church of Crete
The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete convened today, October 31, 2025, in session at its headquarters in Heraklion, and addressed the items on its agenda.
With regard to the matter of filling the vacant Holy Metropolis of Kydonia and Apokoronas, the Holy Synod, for spiritual reasons and for the good of the Church, did not proceed with the election of a new Metropolitan during the present session.
It is further emphasized and clarified that the proceedings of the Holy Synod were conducted in full composition, and that no legal or any other external influence affected its decisions, in reference to the extrajudicial document delivered today to the Synod by a clergyman, an event that has already been publicized in electronic media outlets.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
