In an interview with ANT1 and “Good Morning Greece,” Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece covered various urgent topics, such as same-sex marriage, adoption, new identities, and more.

Archbishop Ieronymos also referred to the recent incident of fan violence resulting in the severe injury of a 31-year-old policeman in Renti, the Church’s role over the past 15 years, surrogacy, and the complex case of the “Ark of the World.”

Speaking to ANT1 about everyday issues and sports-related fan violence in the wake of the incidents in Renti and the serious injury of the policeman, Archbishop Ieronymos said, “We need to address the problem and solve it. Worse things will follow. We need to look at our Education. Go to a school today and ask the children who Kolokotronis was… They have stripped the schools,” said Archbishop Ieronymos.

“We have not succeeded in bringing young people to the Church.”

Referring to the work of the Church, he said, “I didn’t realise when 15 years passed. So much has happened,” adding, “Some things went well, some are stagnant, and some we have not achieved yet. Actions need to be taken for the people.”

Care for the elderly and support for the youth

Regarding the issue of the elderly, Archbishop Ieronymos stressed that “We must take care of the elderly; this is a big issue today. The elderly are our parents. We love them, and when we work, someone must take care of them.”

“The Church does not have to apologise to everyone,” he noted.

Regarding support for the youth of our society, he said that he will propose at the Synod the cooperation of the Church and the state to provide Church land to create facilities and house students based on family status criteria.

Marriage of same-sex couples and surrogacy

On the draft law prepared by the government for the marriage of same-sex couples and surrogacy, Archbishop Ieronymos said, “The Church has not yet officially taken a position on this issue. We believe in the freedom of the individual to live as they wish, but we will not allow a change in the composition of society,” stressing that “a child who has two dads or two moms, what rights will he have?”

New IDs

When asked about the reactions that arose from priests and members of the Church for the issuance of new IDs, Archbishop Ieronymos said, “I have issued a new ID,” explaining that “there are groups within the Church with narrower minds, but whoever does not want to be in this large family can leave.”

Ark of the World scandal

Regarding the case of the “Ark of the World” and Father Antonios, as the Primate of the Church of Greece Ieronymos stated that he had told Father Antonios that “his course was not right” before the allegations were made against him. However, as he said, he awaits the decisions of Justice. “He is my child; I cannot condemn him,” he added.

Visit of Erdogan to Greece

The Archbishop praised the visit of the Turkish president to Greece and his meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, but made his reservations clear saying that “I am not naive and I am afraid that there may be some other intention on the part of Turkey behind, and something we do not want may be imposed on us”..

He also made a statement on another ANT1 show, “Proino”, where he said in response to a journalist’s question, “If you fell in love with a man, would you marry him? I wouldn’t marry a man,” while commenting on the decision of the president of SYRIZA to marry his partner, he said, “Let’s leave him alone…”