The Orthodox Church of Greece will take a clear stance on abortion, as the Permanent Holy Synod decided to send circulars to its Bishops and Churches regarding the protection and sanctity of human life and the avoidance of abortions.

The circulars are to be read in all of the country parishes during the feast of the Birth of the Virgin Mary (8-9-2022), as well as for the 100 years since the Asia Minor Catastrophe. The decision by the Permanent Holy Synod, which met for two days, August 24 and 25, under the presidency of the Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece Hieronymos is a clear message that the Church is against abortion and in favour of protecting life.

According to the announcement issued, the body renewed the term of Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki as president of the Synodal Committee on Bioethics and approved his proposal for the appointment of its other members. Finally, it addressed the issue of alleged exorcisms, drawing the attention of the members of the Orthodox Church to avoid participating in the ceremonies of the “Church of all Nations” in Thessaloniki.