Regarding what has been circulated in recent days about the “involvement of the Church and its clergy in political events in the country” in the context of holding national elections, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Jerome made the following statement:

“Let me repeat what goes without saying at a particularly strange moment when an attempt is made, vain of course, to “project” through questions or indirectly, but in any case in an inappropriate, open and deceitful way and serve as obvious devices, supposedly the “involvement” of our Church and her clergy, especially the hierarchs and me personally, in the political events of our country in connection with the upcoming national elections.

“The Church is a divine and human organization, not a secular and authoritative institution. He is not of this world, but lives and works in this world to transform it, serving the human person, every believer, every citizen, without distinction and, of course, regardless of the political beliefs and party preferences of each and every one. . . .

“She loves them all, embraces everyone, accepts everyone, serves them all and works for the salvation of all, faithful to the principles and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and Her holy mission. She does not divide people into lambs and goats, into the elect and not the elect, into the elect and the outcast, because for Her we are all children of the same God. And, of course, with full respect for the autonomy and freedom of the individual, nothing tries to “instruct”, “manipulate” or “direct” in one direction or another in all aspects of the social life of our country.

“He who asserts something like this either knows nothing about the Church and has no connection with her, or deliberately and consciously, throwing himself at truth and reality and playing his games, tries to humiliate Her, offend Her and vilify Her.

“Our Church, as my great predecessor, His Beatitude Archbishop of Athens and All Hellas, Mr. Seraphim, wisely and timely pointed out, does not politicize, does not co-politicize, does not oppose and is not “split”, I would add, but she marches. And our Church is represented and expressed exclusively by the Holy Synod of our Hierarchy and its President, the respective Archbishop, and no one else.

“Therefore, I will not tolerate even a vulgar attempt to use our Church as an instrument for achieving goals alien to anyone and appropriating it by some falsifiers of our faith, who, taking advantage of the religious feeling of the people, strive to create followers and armies, but not equally blasphemous attempts to target our Church as a supposed factor in “underground” or “secret” participation in procedures and matters entirely unrelated to Her mission. Enough”.