The message of the Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church against same-sex marriage was read out in all churches of Greece at the morning liturgy on Sunday, the newsbomb portal reports.
The Synod on January 23, after a nearly six-hour meeting, unanimously decided that it did not agree with marriage and adoption of children for same-sex couples. The Greek Church rejects same-sex marriage, it believes that the bill on same-sex marriage cancels not only Christian values and family tradition, but also the rights of future children, and intends to convey this position to the whole nation. The Synod decided to announce its position in the churches on Sunday, February 4, and distribute the brochure "To the People" through the churches and the website.
"The Holy Synod's encyclical was read out in more than 10,000 churches across the country on Sunday morning, expressing the church's strong disagreement with the bill on same-sex marriage introduced by the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The circular, among other things, says that "the so-called 'homosexual marriage' represents a undermining of Christian marriage and the institution of the traditional Greek family," the portal notes.
The Holy Synod explains that the bill advocates the abolition of fatherhood and motherhood and their transformation into neutral parenthood. At the same time, the Church emphasizes that surrogacy will stimulate the exploitation of women and change the sacred institution of the family.
"The Church cannot accept all this, because it would betray its mission," the Synod's message emphasizes.
"The traditional Christian family consists of a father, mother and children, and in this family children grow up learning motherhood and fatherhood, which will be the most important elements in their further development," the hierarchs say.
The message notes that the Synod appeals to the entire flock to tell the truth about this serious issue.
The Church believes that the state, with its authorities, has the right to draft bills and adopt laws so that unity, peace and love reign in society.
"The Church is an ancient institution, it has centuries—old traditions... The Church does not rule with the state and does not oppose it, but participates in political life in accordance with the laws of God, and she is the shepherd of all. That's why she has a special reason to be respected," the message says.
"On the topic of the so-called "civil marriage of homosexuals," the Holy Synod not only cannot remain silent, but must speak out of love and mercy for everyone. That is why the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece, in its recent decision, unanimously, for well-founded reasons, stated that "it is diametrically opposed to the proposed bill," the message says.
The Church stated that it does this not only out of love for its members, but also out of love for the state itself and its institutions, so that they contribute to society and contribute to its unity.
"We call on the state to address the demographic problem, "which is turning into a bomb ready to explode" and is the most important national problem of our time, the solution of which is undermined by the bill that must be passed, and we call on it to support large families that bring a lot to society and the nation," the message says.
Meanwhile, on Sunday night, unknown people wrote slogans in support of homosexuals and with insults against Metropolitan Hieronymus of Larissa, as well as against the church's attitude to the controversial bill, near one of the churches in the city of Larissa. "To hell with family, religion and homeland," the vandals wrote, in particular.
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis condemned the vandalism, saying it was absolutely unacceptable and deeply offensive to religion, to the right to freedom of religious conscience.
"Blind fanaticism and its exponents have no place in a democratic society. Now the competent state authorities must have their say," Marinakis said in a statement.

Based on the materials of RIA Novosti and newsbomb