She called it unacceptable and offensive Holy Synod his unimaginable statements Metropolitan Dodoni Chrysostomoswho, among other things, said on the morning show that “there is no non-consensual rape” and “there is no arrest for rape”.

In its message, the Holy Synod notes that these are statements by “arrested offensive for the human person and especially for women and victims of rape” which “tarnishes and is extremely unfair to the main initiatives and quiet work of the Church of Greece.”

It is also noted that “His Holiness was present at the broadcast, representing himself, and not the position of the Holy Synod.”

Message from the Holy Synod:

“Today’s statements on the Simera (SKAI) TV show by the benevolent Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Dodonia about the mental and physical participation of victims of the crime of rape are unacceptable, especially for an Orthodox clergyman, and are clearly offensive to a person, and especially to women and victims of rape.

It is emphasized that His Holiness was present at the broadcast, representing himself, and not the position of the Holy Synod. His statements on the specific issue of rape, among other things, cast a shadow and are highly unfair on the important initiatives and silent work of the Church of Greece, both at the synodal level and through her Holy Metropolises and their charitable organizations, which daily and practically stand on the side of women, victims of violence, through activities to support them and hostels to accommodate them, always in cooperation with the social services and the police authorities.

Treating women without exception as equal men and protecting them from all forms of abuse constitute the official position and position of the Church of Greece.

Any opinion of a cleric, regardless of the degree of priesthood, deviating from the above positions of the Holy Synod, in no way expresses the Greek Church.

Condemnation from the political world for outrageous statements

Recall that earlier speaking to SKY, Metropolitan Chrysostomos spoke out against abortion, even when there is rape, while noting that there is no rape without consent.

“A woman does not sit down in a hurry without desire. She does not get pregnant from this question, she must have participation (…) Both must act to make an arrest, ”he said characteristically.

The reaction of representatives of the political world, both from the government and from the opposition, to these unacceptable comments was immediate and violent.

On the government side, among others, Niki Kerameos, Vassilis Kikilias, Adonis Georgiadis, Maria Syregela, Stelios Petsas and Dora Bakoyannis condemned the statements of Metropolitan Dodoni.

“This is a severe insult to society and is incompatible with the position of the church, which in practice supports women who are victims of abuse and rape,” the Minister of Education said in a tweet.

Metropolitan Dodonia’s statement about rape is unthinkable and reprehensible. This severely offends society and is incompatible with the position of the Church, which actually supports women who are victims of abuse and rape.

— Nicky Kerameus (@nkerameus) September 2, 2022

Regarding the statements of the Metropolitan of Dodonia, Minister of Health Thanos Pleuris said: “It is unacceptable to justify the act of rape by trying to link it with the guilt of the victim. These opinions, unfortunately, when they are heard, lead us to such crimes. To say that someone rapes a woman because she wants to is completely out of the Christian faith. I have never heard a more unacceptable statement from the Hierarch.”

From the SYRIZA side, the Secretary of the CoE Rania Svigu notes that “the chilling statements of Metropolitan Dodoni date back to the times of obscurantism and witch hunts.”

The chilling statements of Metropolitan Dodonia refer to the times of obscurantism and the “witch hunt” that have passed for hundreds of years. We are not going to turn back, rape is a crime, female body self-determination is a right.

— Rania Swigkow (@rania_sv) September 2, 2022

“Metropolitan Dodoniy’s statements about the circular of the Holy Synod on abortion are a return to the most conservative views of the past, a return to the Middle Ages,” the minister commented. Nadia Giannakopoulouon behalf of PASOK-Movement for Change.

.@ngiannakopoulou – Metropolitan Dodoni’s statements regarding the circular of the Holy Synod on abortion are a return to the most conservative views of the past, a return to the Middle Ages. pic.twitter.com/GOcOj86EUm

— PASOK — Movement for Change (@pasok) September 2, 2022