“He made the sign of the cross and said thank God for everything.” In this way, Archbishop Eirinaios of Crete received the announcement of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate yesterday afternoon, demonstrating once again the reasons why he is so beloved among priests and believers.
It was the Assistant Bishop, Bishop of Knossos, and Chief Secretary of the Holy Provincial Synod of the Church of Crete Prodromos Xenakis, who read the historic decision to Archbishop Eirinaios.
And as the Bishop of Knossos, who has been on the side of the Archbishop of Crete for years, stated in an interview with ERT Heraklion, “receiving strength from the power of his soul and joy from the spiritual joy he experiences throughout his life”, the venerable hierarch “accepted with respect the decisions of the Church without any human sorrow, but with praise of the name of God”.
Besides, the Archbishop of Crete himself was absolutely aware of all the steps of the process. According to his Assistant Bishop, the three university doctors who examined him, according to medical ethics, had previously informed the Archbishop and received his approval.
“He answered all three separately that he wants to proceed the process in accordance with the decisions of the church. This alone shows the ethos of our Archbishop and his ecclesiology. He always put forward not the ego but the Church.
The decision of the Holy Provincial Synod of the Church of Crete, for the succession of Eirinaios, was not easy for anyone, repeated the Bishop of Knossos. “But it was the only legal solution. This solution was the only way to ensure the validity and legality of the procedures,” he clarified.
