Patras, Greece, January 29, 2024
Photo: Facebook
A priest of the Orthodox Church of Greece who is known as an Protopresbyter Anastasios GotsopoulosGotsopoulos, Anastasios, Protopresbyter
“>outspoken critic of ecumenism and supporter of Orthodoxy in Ukraine is being threatened with defrocking by his ruling hierarch.
Protopresbyter Anastasios Gotsopoulos was recently summoned by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras to give an apology for three offenses:
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contempt and disobedience of his hierarch
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insulting the Patriarchate of Constantinople
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scandalizing the faithful.
The Metropolitan’s decision is awaited, reports the Constantinople-aligned outlet Phos Phanariou.
Recall that Fr. Anastasios was previously convicted in a civil court of Greek priest convicted of serving Liturgy on Annunciation during pandemic (+VIDEO)Protopresbyter Anastasios Gotsopoulos, who served in the Church of St. Nicholas in Patras on March 25, 2020, received a suspended sentence of 8 months in prison.
“>celebrating the Divine services during the COVID lockdown in 2020.
According to the new report, Fr. Anastasios is now threatened with defrocking after a recent interview he gave. The Phos Phanariou report does not mention the outlet, but Father did give an interview to the Ukrainian-based Union of Orthodox Journalists earlier this month.
According to the Constantinople outlet, Fr. Anastasios “declared himself a supporter of the Russian Church, Putin, etc.” (note that no such thing was stated in his interview with the UOJ) and reiterated that he does not recognize the schismatic “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko, but rather supports the Orthodox Christians in Ukraine headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine. He is also accused of “disparaging Patriarch Bartholomew whom he consistently targets along with other supposed Orthodox fanatics in Patras.”
Met. Chrysostomos accuses Fr. Anastasios of ignoring the decision of the Church of Greece regarding the Ukrainian issue. Recall that in Greek Church recognizes Ukrainian schismaticsThe Bishops’ Council of the Greek Orthodox Church, gathered in an extraordinary session today, has resolve to recognize the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” (OCU), which was previously recognized only by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which created the new structure last December.
“>October 2019, the hierarchy of the Church of Greece voted to allow their primate, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, to decide whether to commemorate the schismatics or not, which he Greek Archbishop commemorated schismatic primate for first time on SundayArchbishop Ieronymos of Athens, the President of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, commemorated Epiphany Dumenko, the primate of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” for the first time yesterday.”>began to do the next month.
Phos Phanariou writes that Fr. Anastasios constantly stands in favor of “the former Metropolitan Onuphry, who is pro-Russian,” seemingly unaware that Met. Onuphry led the UOC in its vote to separate from the Moscow Patriarchate in Council of UOC strengthens UOC independence, considers making Chrism, expresses disagreement with PatriarchThe Council issued a number of resolutions, including a condemnation of the fratricidal war, disagreement with Patriarch Kirill’s position on the war, what’s necessary for there to be any dialogue with the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” and declarations of the increased independence of the UOC. Notably, the possibility of making Chrism within the UOC was discussed.
“>May 2022, after which His Beatitude Met. Onuphry changes how he commemorates—reads diptychs of Orthodox primates (+VIDEO)Met. Onuphry didn’t commemorate His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia as the hierarch over him, but rather read the diptychs of primates according to the practice of the primates of the autocephalous Local Churches.”>ceased commemorating Patriarch Kirill as his superior.
According to Met. Chrysostomos, Fr. Anastasios insults Patriarch Bartholomew by comparing him to heretics and supporting the call for a pan-Orthodox council, even if not convened by Pat. Bartholomew. Further, the Metropolitan says that Fr. Anastasios scandalizes the faithful with his refusal to recognize the Ukrainian schismatics, according to Phos Phanariou.
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