On the occasion of the statements of Professor Manolis Dermitzakis in regards to the Holy Communion, the Metropolitan Ignatius of Demetrias spoke on Wednesday afternoon on TV channel MEGA and gave his answer.
Metropolitan Ignatius said that “this is a purely ecclesiastical issue of faith that has theological implications, which concerns the experience of our church, so it is good for us church leaders to handle it.” The Metropolitan declined to speak live with the Professor of genetics Manolis Dermitzakis who was live at the same time and was listening to the Metropolitan and added that “It would be very absurd for me to start a scientific discussion. After all, there are the counterparts of the Professor who have a completely opposite opinion from him with whom he can talk.”
The Metropolitan then referred to this year’s experience of the feast of The Assumption of Virgin Mary saying that “millions of people communed and thank God the cases in Greece did not increase. So we have an issue that should not in any way divide the Greek people”, noting that “I think that very wisely the government and those in charge do not want such an issue.”
The Metropolitan of Demetrias, referring to the stance taken by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew towards the holy sacrament of the Holy Communion, claimed that “in a meeting he had with the Hierarchs of Diaspora, he decided that the holy sacrament of the Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church could not be changed” and to refute the claims of Professor Dermitzakis he clarified that “It is not true that other churches are changing the way. No, they have not changed the way.”
Concluding, the Metropolitan of Demetrias, underlined that “we will do our own work here based on the faith, experience and unity of our church.”