Tomorrow, Tuesday, a delegation from the Church of Crete, led by Archbishop Eugenios, will meet at Maximos Mansion with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The meeting was requested since July, following the amendment regarding the “transferable” status of metropolitans, and takes place amid unrest in both ecclesiastical circles and local society.
The amendment timeline and Church of Crete’s reaction
The controversial amendment, passed by the government, modifies the legal interpretation of Article 22 of the Constitutional Charter of the Church of Crete, essentially limiting the possibility of transferring (reassigning) active metropolitans from one Metropolis to another. This legislative intervention caused intense reactions, as it was considered a direct violation of the Church of Crete’s autonomy. Although Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki clarified that the amendment had the consent of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Church of Crete clearly expressed its disagreement. The interpretive amendment stipulates that “transferable” status applies only to metropolitans and auxiliary bishops of the Patriarchate based outside Greece, essentially excluding Cretan metropolitans from transfer possibilities.
Historical examples of “transferable” elections in the Church of Crete
The Church of Crete recalls that transfers of metropolitans have occurred in the past based on the same article, such as:
• The late Irenaeus from Germany to the Metropolis of Kissamos,
• The late Theodore from the Metropolis of Lampi and Sfakia to Rethymno,
• The late Cyril Kypriotakis from Kissamos to the Metropolis of Gortyna and Arkadia.
The vacant Metropolis of Kydonia and Amphilochios’ candidacy
The dispute was reignited with the death of the Metropolitan of Kydonia and Apokoronas, Damascenos, and the start of the succession process. The rumored candidacy of Metropolitan Amphilochios of Kissamos and Selinos brought the “transferable” issue back to the forefront. The Provincial Synod of the Church of Crete convened on Friday, May 2 in Heraklion, but due to legal uncertainty surrounding the amendment, did not proceed with the election. Instead, it limited itself to a Synodical Meeting for further study of legal issues.
Archbishop Eugenios: “The Church of Crete will not back down”
In strong terms, Archbishop Eugenios of Crete has publicly expressed his opposition to the amendment during the divine liturgy on August 25. He characterized it as “a blow to the autonomy of the Church of Crete” and reminded that the local Church belongs entirely to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Eugenios did not rule out the possibility that the Church of Crete would proceed with implementing the “transferable” status despite reactions, stating characteristically: “We will proceed in the future as we know how; and the clergy of the Church of Crete knows that their spiritual leaders have neither selfish interests nor personal benefits.”
What’s at stake in Tuesday’s meeting at Maximos Mansion
Tuesday’s meeting between the Prime Minister and the Church of Crete delegation is awaited with particular interest, as it represents a last attempt to defuse tensions and possibly renegotiate the amendment.
