An Exodios funeral service was held today at the Metropolitan cathedral of St. Paraskevi for the Metropolitan of Lagadas, Litis and Rentinis, Ioannis, who reposed in the Lord on Sunday morning at the age of 62.
Due to restrictions in place to prevent exposure to the coronavirus pandemic, the funeral service was officiated by the appointed Patriarchal vicar of the Metropolis, the Metropolitan of Serres and Nigrita, His Eminence Theologos. Hierarchs representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece were also in attendance.
The passing of the beloved hierarch, who fell victim to the pandemic, caused deep sorrow in the northern Greece Metropolis of Lagadas and throughout the Orthodox world. The reposed Metropolitan was well-known for his significant pastoral work.
In a related development, the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, in a statement, expressed its sadness over the fact, as it charged, that some local media outlets in Greece continuously target Orthodox Christians, clergy and laity, as their supposed ideological opponent.
The statement, issued by the Standing Holy Synod, came in response to insolent comments made by some journalists regarding the passing of the Metropolitan of Lagadas and his undiluted faith in Holy Communion.
In the statement against the distortions of the beliefs of the Church, the Holy Synod reminded that it was the Church of Greece that issued encyclicals and announcements to ask the faithful to comply with health measures inside and outside the churches, while never supporting pandemic deniers and never expressing the puerile and pagan view that Orthodox priests or Christians, in general, are immune to the coronavirus because of their status.
