The case of a Greek priest who opposed the creation of the OCU has been referred to the Synodal Court of the Church of Greece

The episcopal trial in the case of Presbyter Anastasios Gotsopoulos has concluded in Patras: Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras has decided to refer the case to the lower-level Synodal Court, which is to render the final decision. Until the case is resolved, the clergyman will remain suspended from ministerial duties.

According to Fos Fanariou, the session of the Episcopal Court took place at the Diocese of Patras and concerned the ecclesiastical disciplinary case of Father Anastasius Gotsopoulos. Following the proceedings, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras ruled to refer the case to the higher Synodal Court for final review.

At the same time, it was decided that Fr. Anastasius would remain suspended from his priestly duties until the higher Synodal body issues a final decision in this case.

According to reports, this turn of events prolongs the ecclesiastical and administrative uncertainty that began in November 2025. At that time, the cleric was suspended from ministry for the first time in connection with the publication of an article titled “Eckleton Before the Ecumenical Throne: A Guarantee of Justice or an Encouragement of Injustice?”

In that article, as the source notes, the priest criticized the decisions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate related to the case of Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos. Now, the final assessment of the clergyman’s actions and further ecclesiastical-administrative measures will depend on the decision of the Synodal Court.

As a reminder, we previously reported that Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras accused Priest Anastasios Gozopoulos of canonical violations for calling on the church not to recognize the Ukrainian church schism. It is known that Father Anastasios has repeatedly expressed his support and respect for His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv and All Ukraine and for the faithful of the UOC. In turn, the Metropolitan of Patras, in a letter to the priest, accused him of “unacceptable and anti-church behavior,” threatening him with defrocking.