Thessaloniki, December 20, 2017

The purpose of the Crete Council was for the Orthodox Churches to recognize heresy, Fr. Theodore Zisis says.

Photo: Orthodox Ethos

Respected priest and theologian Fr. Theodore Zisis gave a speech on November 29 in which he told about the threats that His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos) of Nafpaktos experienced during 2016’s Crete Council due to his refusal to sign certain of the conciliar documents, and especially his refusal to confess the title of “church” for non-Orthodox confessions. This was reported by the Greek newspaper “Orthodox Tipos.”

The professor emeritus of the University of Thessaloniki and famous theologian Fr. Zisis stated during the talk that “The question of which term to use—‘Christian communities’ or ‘Christian churches’—was the only question they discussed at the Crete Council for two whole days. Other decisions were easily made. This indicates that it was precisely this that interested them: that the Churches would recognize heresies. All the rest was smoke and mirrors…”

Met. Hierotheos (Vlachos) was among those who resisted the title of “church” being given to non-Orthodox confessions, and he experienced serious pressure, to the point of feeling threatened, from his brother bishops, states Fr. Theodore: “He was given a fight; he was under pressure. I won’t tell the details which the Metropolitan of Nafpaktos told me. I will only say that for two days before making this decision, there was such pressure, such abuse against him from his brother bishops, that he was afraid, and barricaded himself into his hotel room at night, blocking the door with chairs and beds.”

Met. Hierotheos has also stated that the entire Greek delegation was heavily criticized for maintaining a consistent position, that the draft version of the “The Relationship of the Orthodox Church With the Rest of the Christian World” document was in need of emendation. Met. Hierotheos refused to sign the final version of the document, which ended up acknowledging the title of “church” for other Christian confessions.

Fr. Theodore himself has also been highly critical of the Crete Council and announced on the Sunday of Orthodoxy this year that he would cease commemorating his local hierarch due to his acceptance of Crete. Fr. Theodore has been suspended from priestly duties, stripped of his honorary title of “Protopresbyter,” excommunicated from the chalice, and called to spiritual court.