LAST UPDATE: 15:50
By Romfea.news
The Ukrainian autocephaly issue, the demand of “Macedonian-speaking” inhabitants of Greece for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in “Macedonian” and the revision of the penal code, were some issues discussed by the Standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.
In particular, the Holy Synod expressed concern to the Ecumenical Patriarch at the request of the self-proclaimed “Macedonian-speaking” inhabitants of Greece that the Divine Liturgy should be celebrated in “Macedonian”.
The Holy Synod, which met yesterday and today under the presidency of Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, sent a letter to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, expressing its concern about the request of the self-proclaimed “Macedonian speakers” of Greece and the political entity of the self-proclaimed “Macedonian minority in Greece”, concerning the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the so-called “Macedonian” language in the nationally sensitive region of Northern Greece.
Moreover, the Holy Synod was also briefed by Archbishop Ieronymos on the meeting with the representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, that is Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and Metropolitan Amphilochios of Adrianople, during which issues related to the Ukrainian church issue were discussed.
The Holy Synod also decided to intervene on the issue of the revision of the penal code, in particular, to remove the articles on malicious blasphemy, religious insult, and verbal outrage of a dead person, which would have negative impact on the good of the religious and social peace.
Also, in view of the Easter holidays, the Standing Holy Synod approved the offer of a financial aid of 2,000 euros to 100 families of fire-stricken settlements in Attica, for the issuance of a building permit for the repair of damaged houses, in consultation with the agencies.
The Synod also addressed the report of the three-member dialogue committee with the Greek State on the religious education class, “for everything that has been done so far, and especially the issue of writing new school textbooks for the religious education class.”
The Standing Holy Synod also approved:
-The appointment of Bishop Agapios of Kehrees to the post of the Protosyncellus of the Metropolis of Corinth, following the recommendation of Metropolitan Dionysios of Corinth.
-The appointment of Archimandrite Thomas Andreou to the post of the Protosyncellus of the Metropolis of Ioannina, following the recommendation of Metropolitan Maximos of Ioannina.