Greek cleric rebukes deputy during Liturgy for supporting LGBT law

The Church of the Life-Giving Spring in the city of Larissa. Photo: Vima Orthodoxias

In the Greek city of Larissa, a solemn service in honor of the feast of the Life-Giving Spring concluded with a public denunciation of a government representative. Vima Orthodoxias reports that the incident occurred in the church of the Tampakika district during the Divine Liturgy.

The clergyman interrupted his speech when he saw a deputy from the ruling party, Christos Kellas, among the honored guests in the front rows. The priest sharply demanded that the politician and his accompanying persons immediately move to the back of the church.

"I told you to sit in the back!" the cleric shouted. He accused the present politicians of hypocrisy, stating that they come to church only twice a year for visual effect and personal gain, while providing no real help to the region and the Church.

The denunciation continued with criticism of the authorities' financial and ideological decisions. The priest pointed to the "enormous salaries" of parliament members, which, according to him, bring no benefit to ordinary people.

The main cause of the clergyman's anger was the deputy's recent support for the law on same-sex unions. The cleric placed personal responsibility on Kellas for voting in favor of legalizing LGBT couples.

The priest's words provoked mixed reactions among the parishioners. Some believers supported the denunciation with applause. Other attendees were shocked by the incident, noting that the church is not a place for such political confrontations, especially on the day of a major religious feast.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Church of Greece reaffirmed its refusal to recognize LGBT marriages after a court ruling.

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