The possible nomination of the Orthodox Bishop of Salona, His Grace Antonios, for the post of Metropolitan of Glyfada-Voula-Vouliagmeni – a prominent Metropolis in southeast coastal Athens – faced a canonical challenge this week.
A written opinion by the Metropolitan of Messinia, His Eminence Chrysostomos, questioned whether serving Church hierarchs, Bishops and Metropolitans can be elected as Metropolitans of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece. According to His Eminence Chrysostomos, such a prospect is not allowed under the Church of Greece’s charter.
Antonios is reportedly a personal choice of Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, His Beatitude Ieronymos II, for the post of Metropolitan of Glyfada-Voula-Vouliagmeni.
According to information gathered by the Orthodoxia news agency, should Antonios’ nomination not proceed, the current first secretary of the Holy Metropolis of Glyfada, Fr. Alexios Psoinos, is seen as a possible option, given the support shown by clerics, laypeople and local society in the Metropolis towards his person.