The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece demands Elder Efraim’s release

13/1/2012
Lake Vistonida Issue

At the decision of the Holy Synod Archbishop Jeronymos will visit the Abbot of the Vatopedi monastery, Archimandrite Efrem, in the Korydallos detention centre. In a statement, the Holy Synod condemns the elder’s detention on Christmas Eve and indirectly demanded his release.

It says that the Synod ‘along with the congregation expresses its sympathy on behalf of all of its members for the predicament of the Abbot and conveys its hope and expectation that the possibility of his release will soon be revisited’.

The bishops added that the Abbot’s remand into custody ‘has dealt a severe blow against the name of the Church and has justifiably saddened the Orthodox people of Greece and beyond; at the same time it has raised serious concern and strong criticism against the decision by acclaimed litigators’.

At the same time they declared that the Church of Greece respects the decision of the Courts and ‘in no way wishes to intervene in their affairs’. However, the statement meaningfully added that ‘at times some decisions had raised concerns as to their accurateness’!

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