LAST UPDATE: 16:53
The Church comes with a positive mood in the dialogue with the Government that is to begin on July 22 in the framework of the joint Church-State dialogue committee.
“There is an appetite from both us and the State. We will struggle, we will make an effort; we are always in favor of struggling and making an effort,” the Archbishop said, walking out of the Synodal mansion, when asked by reporters what he expected from the upcoming dialogue.
The Metropolitans of Messinia, Samos and Kaisariani, the bishop of Oreoi as well as the legal advisor of the Church will participate on behalf of the Church of Greece.
Regarding the extension of the measures, Archbishop Ieronymos said: “The Church does what it can. It did what it could and will do what it can.” Asked if the Church is wronged, the Archbishop replied that “people are wronged. We must do what we can to save the man. That is the supreme law of the Church.”
In relation to Hagia Sophia, he pointed out that it is a matter “that touches the inner self, not only mine and of the religious people, but of all civilized people. Hagia Sophia is not just a Christian monument built by Justinian, it is a world monument with a great role in cultural history. And wherever civilization is being fought, human value is falling, and this is a sign that humanity is perishing more and more every day. ”
Commenting on the extension of the measures in the churches until August 21, the spokesman for the Holy Synod, the Metropolitan of Philippi, said: “Only God is just. We are all unjust many times” and he added that “taking measures to avoid worse situations is preferable to any irresponsible moves and actions.”
Asked about Hagia Sophia, he also stressed that everything that has been said is true, expressing the hope that prudence, peace and respect for this historic monument will prevail.