Cretan Synod Reports Pressure from Constantinople and the Greek Government in the Election of a Metropolitan

The Church of Crete has accused the Greek government and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of attempting to interfere in the election process for a new Metropolitan of Kydonia and Apokoronas. In an official statement, the Synod claimed that “various institutional figures” are trying to prevent the election of a specific candidate. These efforts include attempts to block the transfer of metropolitans between dioceses in order to stop the appointment of Metropolitan Amphilochios of Kissamos and Selinos, the leading candidate for the Kydonia and Apokoronas see. This was reported by The Orthodox Times.

Ahead of the Synod’s session, its members received a letter from the Ecumenical Patriarchate urging them not to appoint Metropolitan Amphilochios to the new position. In response, the Synod held a five-hour meeting but was unable to reach a decision due to internal disagreements and pressure from both Constantinople and the Greek authorities.

The Synod failed to make a decision due to internal divisions and external pressure. The issue of electing a new metropolitan remains unresolved.

Earlier, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and Mass Media, Vakhtang Kipshidze, outlined the conditions under which relations between the Moscow and Constantinople Patriarchates might be restored. According to him, the key step required from the Phanar is to revoke the decision to establish the OCU and to withdraw the tomos of autocephaly granted to that organization.