The Holy Synod unanimously rejected the appeal filed by three monks from the Holy Monastery of Saint Avvakoum, who were present at the Archbishopric today. Upon leaving, the monks referred to “slander,” with Monk Nektarios commenting on the decision by saying, “A crow will not pluck out another crow’s eye.”
The unanimous decision was communicated in writing, stating that the grounds for the appeal were deemed unfounded, thereby upholding the initial ruling.
As a result, it was announced that for Fathers Nektarios Georgiou, Porphyrios Toutoulou, and Avvakoum Christofi, the “ultimate penalty of removal from priesthood and reintroduction into the rank of monk” remains in effect. Additionally, it was noted that the Holy Synod, acting “with compassion,” decided that the said monks may remain within the monastic order, provided they are integrated into different monastic brotherhoods. Specifically, Father Avvakoum Christofi is to join the Holy Monastery of Panagia of Kykkos, Father Porphyrios Toutoulou the Holy Monastery of Panagia of Machairas, and Father Nektarios Georgiou the Holy Monastery of Panagia Chrysorroiatissa.
The decision emphasised that the Holy Synod, acting as the competent ecclesiastical court for appeals under the provisions of the Church’s Constitutional Charter, comprised Archbishop Georgios as President, along with members including the Metropolitans of Paphos Tychikos, Kyrenia Chrysostomos, Morphou Neophytos, Kykkos Nikiforos, Trimithountos Varnavas, and Bishop Porphyrios of Neapolis.
The Holy Synod expressed hope that the three monks, realising the severity of their canonical transgressions, will “seek God’s mercy with deep remorse and sincere repentance.”
The Monks’ Reaction
Using the phrase, “A crow will not pluck out another crow’s eye,” the former abbot of the Monastery of Saint Avvakoum, Nektarios, spoke on behalf of himself and the monks Porphyrios and Avvakoum before the decision was officially announced.
The three monks exited the Archbishopric, and in a brief statement to media representatives, Father Nektarios criticised the Metropolitan of Tamasos, stating that they believe in “divine justice” rather than human justice.
He explained that they had filed the appeal following the encouragement of several Synod members but realised during the process that “we came here to be mocked, merely to strengthen their position, because a crow will not pluck out another crow’s eye.”
He thanked those who supported them and declared their innocence in what he called “these slanders and injustices” directed against them. He alleged these accusations were intended solely to gain media attention and to put the Holy Synod in a difficult position. “And everyone knows that this was orchestrated by our Metropolitan,” he added.
God, he continued, “does not abandon anyone” and further stated that the Church had left them “orphaned” and “cast them out into the streets.”
“We believe in divine justice, not human justice. We believe that God will not abandon us. We will start again from scratch with the Fathers, united as a brotherhood, and we hope that the state will take the necessary measures,” he concluded.
Also read: Avvakoum: “Orphaned by the Church – Had a Pakistani done this…”
Source: CNA
