Priest fights church homosexuality charge
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Nicosia (Reuter) - A Greek Cypriot priest accused of homosexuality by his church will today answer its charges while a Nottingham-based priest has decided to sue the archbishopric for libel for naming him in the affair.
Archimandrite Pangratios Meraclis, 39, denies allegations of moral impropriety. The Nottingham priest described on the charge sheet as a homosexual is Iakovos Savva, who has let it be known through his lawyer that he intends to bring libel proceedings.
The threat of legal action against the church is the latest twist in an affair that sparked some of the worst rioting in years in Nicosia, when Mr Meraclis's supporters besieged the archbishopric before being dispersed by riot police.
"We believe the procedure [trial] against Meraclis is a complete illegality. It was based on the testimony of incompetent witnesses and church rules were not followed." said his lawyer Efstathios Efstathiou, an MP and chairman of the parliamentary legal affairs committee.
Two members of the Holy Synod have publicly agreed with lawyers who criticised the procedure against Mr Meraclis , a taxi driver, as a violation of church rules. The two men who testified against him and a massage parlour owner, have since moved to Romania.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments