When asked by journalists about the incident that took place during the Second Instance Synodal Court on Wednesday, June 23, Metropolitan Ierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agios Vlasios answered:
“The appalling event that happened during the Second Instance Synodal Court, caused sadness and pain to all the Hierarchs, clergy and laity and to me personally.
I express my warm support to the Metropolitans who were members of the Synodal Court as well as to the clergy and laity, who were attacked in such a coward manner. It is an act that never happened before in church life, even in the court life of our country.
The seven Synodal Hierarchs, dear brothers, performed their synodal duties and unexpectedly found themselves in such a horrific act.
Everyone must understand that respect for the canonical and church law and the sacred institution of the Church is required and such anarchist actions are not allowed in the Church.
When one, even a clergyman or former clergyman, s monk or a former monk, does not respect the synodal decisions and the institutions of the Church, in general, then he has no place in the Church.
Of course, we, the hierarchs, must also pay attention to whom we ordain and whether they have the normal and psychological conditions to become members of the clergy because those who enter the ranks of priesthood uncontrollably create many problems in the Church.
I am deeply sad for my fellow hierarchs who suffered this unreasonable attack and wish them a speedy recovery.
I also congratulate Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos because he dealt with this event in a sober, discreet and impeccable way in deeds and words.”