Ecumenical Patriarchate: “No” to marriages of same-sex couples

24 hours after the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece said no legislation on marriage for same-sex couples, the Ecumenical Patriarchate in its statement also spoke out against this.

In particular, in “Communiqué on the institutionalization of marriage between persons of the same sex in Greece”, Among other things, it is said that the Church does not accept anything other than marriage (it does not agree with any other form of cohabitation), and this only applies to the union of a man and a woman.

Full text of the statement:

“The Holy and Sacred Synod, sitting under the chairmanship of His Holiness. The Holy and Sacred Synod, at its regular meeting today, Wednesday, January 24, 2024, under the chairmanship of His Holiness, reminds the pious flock of the All-Holy Ecumenical Throne, during the discussion of the issue of the institution of marriage between persons same sex and childbearing in Greece, on the binding decision of the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church (Crete, June 2016) that “the Church does not accept for its members cohabitation of the same or opposite sex and any other forms of cohabitation other than marriage,” as “ union of a man and a woman in Christ,” which “represents a small church or image of the Church” (text “The Mystery of Marriage and Its Obstacles,” I.10 At the same time, it is noted that members of the Church who enter into such forms of cohabitation should be treated with pastoral responsibility and love in Christ.

From the office of the Main Secretariat of the Holy and Holy Synod”

Ἡ Ἁγία καί Ἱερά Σύνοδος, συνελθοῦσα ὑπό τήν προεδρίαν τῆς Α. Θ. ? 2024 ἰκουμενικοῦ Θρόνου, ἐπί τῇ συζητήσει περί θεσμοθετήσεως γάμου μετ αξύ ἀτόμων τοῦ ἰδίου φύλου καί περί τεκνοθεσίας ἐν Ἑλλάδι, τήν δεσμ ευτικήν Ἀπόφασιν τῆς Ἁγίας καί Μεγάλης Συνόδου τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας (Κρήτη, Ἰούνιος 2016), ὅτι “ἡ Ἐκκλησία δέν ἀποδέχεται διά τά μέλη αὐτῆς σύμφωνα συμβιώσεως τοῦ α ὐτοῦ ἤ ἑτέρου φύλου καί πᾶσαν ἄλλην μορφήν συμβιώσεως, διαφόρου το ῦ γάμου” ὡς “τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ ἑνώσεως ἀνδρός καί γυναικός“, ἡ ὁποία “συνιστᾷ μίαν μικράν ἐκκλησίαν ἤ μίαν εἰκόνα τῆς Ἐκκλησία ς” (κείμενον “Τό μυστήριον τοῦ γάμου καί τά κωλύματα αὐτοῦ”, Ι.10 καί 4). ? μέλη τῆς Ἐκκλησίας πρέπει νά ἀντιμετωπίζωνται μετά ποιμαντικῆς εὐθ ύνης καί ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπης.

“”

Let us recall that the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece decided to send letters to 300 deputies and formulate a text for reading in parishes, and itself went on a maneuver, providing, in essence, cover for prelates who are likely to decide to act more “dynamically”, perhaps even with lynchings in their dioceses.

Mitsotakis: “The law adds rights.” The Prime Minister in particular referred to the proposed civil marriage provision for same-sex couples during his presentation to Cabinet, emphasizing that it is a matter of equality that cannot be divided.

Minister of State and rapporteur of the bill Akis Skertsos gave answers on the content of the same-sex marriage bill, as well as on the spirit of the bill, during a cabinet meeting. The head of the National LGBT Strategy answered questions and objections that were raised during public debates and provided evidence from international reality.

First, he recalled that the program “New Democracy” provides “implementation of the National Strategy for LGBTI Equality.” In essence, the bill presented “introduces equality in civil marriage, that is, access to the institution of civil marriage for all Greek citizens, without discrimination and regardless of sexual orientation.” He emphasized that the bill protects the interests of children by regulating family law issues in families of same-sex couples. Against, “we do not extend the right to medically assisted reproduction and surrogacy to male couples”he clarified.

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