The Greek Parliament’s decision to legalize same-sex marriages and adoption by same-sex couples has sparked significant concern and criticism from representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate, who see it as a threat to traditional values and the Church’s integrity.
The representatives emphasized the incompatibility of the Church with LGBT ideology, deemed extremist and banned in Russia, and expressed worries about the erosion of moral principles in society. They highlighted the strategic implications of legalizing same-sex unions, suggesting it as a deliberate effort to weaken the Church’s influence.
Moreover, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, said that the Church of Greece was unable to prevent “a blatant violation of traditional moral principles.”
The adoption by the Greek Parliament of a law legalizing same-sex marriages and the adoption of children by them is a tragic event for the Greek people and for the Church of Greece, which has proved unable to prevent a “blatant violation of traditional moral principles.”
“What happened is a tragic event both for the Greek people and the Church of Greece. Despite its state status, the Church was unable to unite its flock to prevent this blatant violation of traditional moral principles,” Yakimchuk added.
He acknowledged that “clear signs of spiritual degradation [in Greece] appeared not now, but several years earlier,” when the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) was created, the Moscow Patriarchate was considered as schismatic.
Then, in 2018, the deputy head of the DECR reminded many Greek hierarchs and clergymen “for narrow nationalistic reasons turned a blind eye to the obvious violation of church canons by the Ecumenical Patriarchate” (which they call “the Patriarchate of Constantinople”).
He stressed, “They recognized and entered into ecclesiastical communion with individuals who blasphemously pretend to be bishops, but never were.”
After that, Yakimchuk added, under various far-fetched pretexts, “those who dared to defend the church canons” began to be persecuted in the Church of Greece. The representative of the Russian Orthodox Church concluded, “Regrettably, the Orthodox community in Greece has found itself powerless against the relentless attack of secular forces aiming to eradicate all moral principles from people’s lives worldwide.”
Additionally, Vakhtang Kipshidze, Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate for Relations between the Church and Society and the Media, also expressed concerns over the recent legislation passed by the Greek Parliament.
He emphasized that this law directly contradicts the Christian concept of the family and appears to be targeted at undermining the Church. He warned of the potentially catastrophic consequences this decision may have on Greek society.
He stressed the ongoing “totalitarian pressure” experienced by numerous European Union member states, compelling them to adopt ideologies contrary to their traditional values.
“The decision to legalize same-sex unions by a state shows a strategic intent to undermine the very fabric of the Church,” he asserted. “The Church cannot align with the LGBT ideology, deemed extremist and banned in Russia, as the two are fundamentally incompatible. Any Church that embraces this ideology and sanctions such marriages risks deviating from its sacred role, transforming into mere advocacy groups for LGBT rights,” Kipshidze concluded.
On Thursday, February 16, the Greek parliament made a historic decision by passing legislation to legalize same-sex marriages and allow for the adoption of children. The bill was deliberated in the 300-seat unicameral supreme legislative body, with 254 deputies participating in the vote. Ultimately, 175 parliamentarians voted in favor of the law, while 77 opposed it, and two abstained.
During the debate, the Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church unanimously expressed its opposition to same-sex marriages and the adoption of children by such couples.
The hierarchs asserted that “homosexuality is contrary to the divine law.”
Translated by Konstantinos Menyktas
