Hierarchical Declaration of Metropolitan Klemes of Larissa and Platamon

June 20 / July 3, 2025

A. For years now, certain anonymous or pseudonymous libelous writings have been circulating, which contain imaginary and false events, namely that in the pseudo-synod of the Orthodox Ecumenists in Kolymbari, Crete, in 2016, or in other similar gatherings—essentially imaginary—Hierarchs of our Church of the Patristic Calendar allegedly participated, and in particular, that our humble person, as Bishop of Gardikion at that time, allegedly co-signed unorthodox decisions!

For this reason, the Holy Synod of our Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece, when it became aware of the existence of such slanderous texts, officially condemned them.

Nevertheless, since it is possible that there may be people—even if only a few—who pay attention to such types of publications, I declare emphatically that these constitute vile slander and dreadful falsehoods that only people delivered over to the power of Satan could have invented. I abhor and condemn these abominations with all my soul. Whoever may be spreading such obvious absurdities in order to attack my Orthodox mindset and faith are victims of the evil one, and I pray for their recovery and repentance. I also beseech the faithful of our Flock not to give any attention to such filthy writings, should they come into their hands through those skilled in wickedness—a thing I pray does not happen.

I remind that my Orthodox position on matters of Faith is fully outlined in my very recent book: “100 Years of Calendar Reform (1924–2024) – Calendar – Ecumenism – Common Paschalion – ‘Primacy’ of Constantinople” (Larissa, 2024, pp. 124), which is already in its third edition and also available in the English language, into which it has been translated and made known throughout the world. To this, therefore, I refer every interested party, since it is available both in printed form and electronically on the internet.

B. I also proceed to declare that Clergy who once belonged to our Church but, due to serious Canonical violations, have been subjected to Synodal penalties (e.g., defrocking), are henceforth deprived of the blessing of our Church and remain in an uncanonical state of spiritual fall.

For this reason, I advise our Flock in Christ not to resort to such persons for sacramental service—in the event that someone does so—whether out of ignorance, geographical proximity, or acquaintance and past relationship. In purely ecclesiastical and spiritual matters, the Holy Canons of the Church have the first and final word, and not individual emotional inclinations or moral evaluations.

If we are to be truly children of the Church and to receive the saving Grace of God without hindrance and with safety, then it is necessary to accept and respect the guidance of our God-ordained Shepherds and not to rely on our personal opinions and judgments—or worse, on the harmful suggestions of spiritually unstable and disturbed individuals.

If, on the other hand—a thing I hope happens with no one—someone stubbornly desires to maintain an ecclesiastical relationship both with former Clergy of our Church who are under censure and with us, then let him know that he is deprived of the blessing and spiritual covering of us, the canonical Shepherds of our martyric Church. For it is not possible to combine the uncombinable, to be both with the prudent and with the disorderly, both with the lawful and with the unlawful, both with the canonical and with the uncanonical. If such an irrational situation prevails, then we will no longer be a Church of Christ with order and decorum, but anarchy and lawlessness—from which may the Lord deliver us!

Greek source: https://imlp.gr/2025/07/03/%E1%BC%80%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B9%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%E1%BD%B4-%CE%B4%CE%AE%CE%BB%CF%89%CF%83%CE%B7/