A Cypriot "theologian" has called on the Orthodox Church to reconsider its stance on LGBT issues

Cypriot theologian Theodoros Kyriakou has called for an open discussion on the topic of homosexuality within the Church, urging recognition of the presence of LGBT individuals among the clergy and the adaptation of pastoral practices to current scientific findings. In his view, the Church must show courage and reconsider its positions, which he described as overly conservative.

As reported by the YouTube channel Sigmalive, Kyriakou emphasized that biblical texts, particularly the epistles of the Apostle Paul, should be viewed as historical documents reflecting the views of their time. The theologian noted that in ancient times, homosexuality was considered a conscious choice, whereas modern research proves the opposite. Citing data used even by conservative American evangelical churches, he stated that “70% of homosexuals cannot change,” which obliges the Church to change its approaches.

During the discussion, Kyriakou cited Pope Francis’s decision to bless same-sex couples as an example and expressed regret that the Orthodox Church often avoids this topic. He also sharply criticized attempts by clergy to “correct” the sexual orientation of believers. According to the theologian, such practices are ineffective and only make people “much more unhappy.” Kiriakou is convinced that the Church must acknowledge the existence of homosexual tendencies among the clergy, including married priests.

As a reminder, we previously reported that the Archdiocese of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the United States funds LGBT projects.