Met Seraphim of Piraeus threatens to sue Alexandrian hierarch for slander
Vladyka reminded the Alexandrian bishop that the comments of the Metropolia of Piraeus regarding the situation in Africa were based on his own words.
On February 18, 2022, Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus of the Greek Orthodox Church responded to a letter of apology from Metropolitan Gregory of Cameroon, the hierarch of the Church of Alexandria, reports the Greek resource “Dogma”.
He told the Alexandrian hierarch that there is freedom in the Orthodox Church and that employees of the Metropolis of Piraeus "in strict compliance with the canonical framework have the opportunity to express effortlessly and freely their judgments and anxieties, for the course of the Church."
Metropolitan Seraphim reminded his brother that the text commented by the Archdiocese of Piraeus, which stated that some hierarchs of the Church of Alexandria were against the recognition of the OCU, was a speech by Metropolitan Gregory himself, which "is posted on the Internet and can be read by anyone".
The hierarch noted that despite the respect he has for Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, in the case of the OCU "the integrity of the Church is at stake", and the representatives of the Metropolis of Piraeus, "moved by pain, expressed their suffering and prayed for a solution to the tragic crisis, 'begging' for a solution, not, as you claim, 'inappropriately suggesting'."
He stressed that unfortunately for Metropolitan Gregory, his "message contains very serious slanderous allegations of canonical, civil and criminal control which you have publicly projected, committing the crime of slander against us”.
It goes about the words of Metropolitan Gregory, who hinted that the publications of the Metropolis of Piraeus against the actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople regarding the OCU and ecumenism are insulting, contracting and were paid for.
"You are therefore called to prove by providing evidence when our Office has insulted our Holy Ecumenical Patriarchate and with what insults and, equally importantly, what proof do you have that this horrible work of insult is being committed by the Office of our Metropolis, for financial reward…," stressed Metropolitan Seraphim.
"We are therefore awaiting the evidence of Your allegations or the public expression of Your apology for these obvious slanders, which You have spread against our Metropolis because otherwise the victims will claim their rights both civilly and criminally," said Metropolitan Seraphim.
As reported, Metropolitan Gregory of Cameroon of the Church of Alexandria demanded an apology from Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus of the Greek Orthodox Church for a publication that stated that some hierarchs of the Church of Alexandria were against the recognition of the OCU.
