ΕΑΝ ΠΡΟΤΙΜΑΤΕ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΠΑΤΗΣΤΕ ΤΗ ΣΗΜΑΙΑ ΣΤΟ ΚΑΤΩ ΜΕΡΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΘΟΝΗΣ
Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu is firing back at critics of his Moscow visit, insisting that the trip and his concelebration with Patriarch Kirill had the Church of Greece’s full knowledge and written approval. His message is blunt: the Synod knew, the Synod approved, and communion with Moscow was never broken.
By Helleniscope’s Editorial Team
Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu has gone on the offensive over criticism of his recent trip to Moscow and concelebration with Patriarch Kirill, insisting the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece knew about the entire visit and gave its written approval.
The Corfu hierarch rejects claims that he acted on his own or attempted to circumvent the official line of the Greek Church.
According to his explanation, the original request concerned the transfer of the right hand of Saint Spyridon to Kazakhstan. When the itinerary was later expanded to include Moscow and other Russian regions, a second request was submitted.
That request, he says, was approved on July 1, 2026, with the authorization issued through the proper synodal channels and bearing the signature of Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens as President of the Holy Synod.
In other words, Nektarios’ answer to his critics is simple: Athens knew. Athens approved.
The Metropolitan also pushed back against criticism of his concelebration with Patriarch Kirill, noting that the Church of Greece has never severed Eucharistic communion with the Russian Orthodox Church.
He further stressed that his mission was pastoral, not political.
Thousands of Russian faithful reportedly waited for hours to venerate the relic of Saint Spyridon, and Metropolitan Nektarios argued that ordinary Orthodox Christians should not be deprived of such a blessing because of geopolitical battles and inter-Orthodox disputes.
He also pointed to the long history of Saint Spyridon’s relics traveling abroad, including to other Orthodox countries, always with ecclesiastical authorization.
Particularly noteworthy is the Metropolitan’s assertion that he conveyed the greetings of Archbishop Ieronymos to the Russian side—hardly the conduct of a hierarch supposedly acting secretly or in open defiance of Athens.
Of course, the timing could hardly have been more sensitive.
Relations between Moscow and Constantinople remain deeply strained over Ukraine, while Patriarch Kirill’s support for the Russian war effort continues to make any high-profile Orthodox appearance in Moscow politically explosive.
Still, Metropolitan Nektarios is clearly rejecting the attempt to portray his trip as some sort of ecclesiastical rebellion.
His defense boils down to three points: the Synod was informed, permission was granted, and communion with Moscow has never been broken.
For his critics, that may not settle the political question.
But canonically, Nektarios is challenging them to explain exactly what rule he violated.
August 27, 2026, www.helleniscope.com, n.stamatakis@aol.com
DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.
