The Metropolitans of Didymoteicho, Xanthi, Alexandroupolis and Maroneia warn the faithful congregation on defrocked clerics who continue to perform sacred services.
In a joint statement, Damaskinos, Panteleimon, Anthimos and Panteleimon (respectively) report that a defrocked Archimandrite of the Holy Metropolis of Alexandroupolis, Ioannis Karasakalidis, was sentenced to imprisonment by the criminal courts, and consequently the ecclesiastical courts deprived him of the right to the priesthood.
Additionally, the former hieromonk of the Holy Metropolis of Maroneia and Komotini, Irenaeus (born Athanasios) Sinamidis, was referred to the ecclesiastical courts, which irrevocably defrocked him.
These two former priests, disregarding court rulings by following the Old Calendar, continue to hold sacred sacraments.
The four Metropolitans on the one hand inform that the sacraments and holy services performed by the aforementioned two former priests are not valid or accepted by the Church, they are not based on the sacred rules, and on the other hand call upon the faithful to be watchful and remain loyal to the faith of the Holy Church.
