Greek Primate officially refuses to go to the Synaxis of Primates in Jordan
Archbishop Ieronymos believes that only the head of the Church of Constantinople has the right to convene such synaxes.
During the session of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church held from January 8 to 10, 2020, the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens rejected the invitation of Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem to come to the Synaxis of Primates of Local Orthodox Churches, reports the Greek outlet "Romfea.gr".
The head of the GOC noted that he would not go to the meeting of Primates because the convening of such events "is a privilege of the Ecumenical Patriarch".
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that at the end of November 2019, Archbishop Ieronymos after meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to Athens Geoffrey R. Pyatt announced his intention to decline the invitation of Patriarch Theophilos III.
“I can’t give a clear answer, because I don’t know the criteria and where they come from,” said the head of the Greek Church. - We do not know whether this is the position of the Patriarch (that is, Jerusalem), or whether the Ecumenical Patriarch knows about it or not. Not everyone can convene a pan-orthodox meeting. This is a privilege of the Ecumenical Patriarch. If the Ecumenical Patriarch calls us, we will not say ‘no’, but if someone who leads a Church calls us, I will say ‘no’.”
