Representatives of the Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate arrived in Heraklion in Crete on Monday evening, 26 January, ahead of the crucial Synod scheduled for Wednesday, during which the three-candidate lists (Triprosopon) will be drawn up for the double election to the vacant Metropolises of Kydonia and Apokoronas and Lambis and Sfakia.
The Exarchate is composed of Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria. Their aircraft landed at Heraklion Airport shortly after 6:00 p.m., where they were warmly welcomed by Archbishop Eugenios of Crete. Also present at the airport were the hierarchs of the Church of Crete, with the exception of Metropolitan Andreas of Arkalochori. The reception took place in a climate of respect and fraternal communion.
According to local media reports, the two hierarchs of the Exarchate first paid their respects at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Minas, after which they proceeded to the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Crete, where an official dinner was held in their honor.
Ecclesiastical sources speaking to the same local outlets after Monday’s initial meetings expressed optimism that a positive climate of understanding is emerging, potentially leading to a common stance among the hierarchs during the double electoral process. Even if full unanimity is not achieved, any differences are expected to be minimal. As they noted characteristically, “the atmosphere is excellent, and everything points toward convergence.”
Meetings and consultations are expected to continue today, while the double election process will take place on Wednesday, both at the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Crete and at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Minas. The ecclesiastical life of Crete remains closely focused on the developments.
Those voting will include the members of the Holy Eparchial Synod: Archbishop Eugenios of Crete, and the Metropolitans Makarios of Gortyna and Arkadia, Andreas of Arkalochori, Kastelli and Viannos, Amphilochios of Kissamos and Selino, Gerasimos of Petra and Cherronissos, Cyrillos of Ierapytna and Siteia, and Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos.
Leading Names for the Vacant Metropolises
It is recalled that Bishop Methodios Vernidakis of Knossos, along with four Protosyncelloi, Archimandrite Bartholomew Vogiatzoglou of the Archdiocese of Crete, Archimandrite Joachim Karandininos of the Metropolis of Gortyna and Arkadia, Archimandrite Titos Tambakakis of the Metropolis of Petra and Cherronissos, Archimandrite Athanasios Karahalios of the Metropolis of Lambis and Sfakia, as well as the General Archieratical Commissioner of the Holy Archdiocese of Crete, Archimandrite Nikiforos Kounalis, are considered the leading names for the formation of the three-candidate lists (Triprosopon) in the double electoral process scheduled for 28 January.
Among the six, the name of Protosyncellos Athanasios Karahalios is considered the frontrunner exclusively for the Metropolis of Sfakia, as it is known that Metropolitan Emeritus Irenaios of Lambis has expressed his wish for him to be his successor. This wish is expected to be taken into consideration, although it is not binding.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
