The Church of Crete has publicly condemned the Greek government's interference in the election process for the new Metropolitan of Chania and Apokoronas. In a statement issued on May 7, 2025, the Church expressed strong opposition after the Greek Parliament passed a law amendment restricting the transfer of a metropolitan to another position within the Church of Crete.

According to Orthodox Times, the Sacred Synod of the Church of Crete argued that the new regulation contradicts the Church’s canonical rights and undermines its self-governance. The Church’s hierarchy claims that the amendment effectively prohibits the election of a new metropolitan from among the existing bishops, which was previously allowed. The law now limits the pool of candidates to new bishops or clergy members who have never led a metropolitanate.

The Synod expressed particular outrage over the fact that the amendment was passed without consultation with the Church itself, and was presented as a mere “clarification” of existing law. This, according to Cretan hierarchs, sets a dangerous precedent where the state can alter ecclesiastical rules without the Church’s consent, violating its autonomy.

The Church of Crete enjoys a special status within the Greek Orthodox framework: while it falls under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, it governs its own affairs independently. Matters such as the election of metropolitans are decided by the Sacred Synod in accordance with the regulations established by a Greek law from 1961.

Metropolitan Amphilochios of Kissamos and Selino, a possible candidate for the position, expressed his firm belief that the Church cannot remain silent when its rights are violated. The Synod of the Church of Crete has called on the faithful to pray and remain vigilant, emphasizing that the defense of ecclesiastical autonomy is not a political struggle, but a matter of preserving canonical order.