Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew made an urgent telephone call to the Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece, Ieronymos yesterday, following a bizarre incident that saw a priest attack several Metropolitans with acid which was condemned by the Greek President.
The 37-year-old priest was arrested after the attack against the seven metropolitans of the Synodal Court, in the Petraki Monastery, as well as a police officer who ran to help.
According to police sources, the priest has not cooperated yet and not disclosed his motivation for the attack, however there are allegations that he was involved in a drug case.
During his telephone conversation with the Archbishop Ieronymos, the Patriach expressed his solidarity and offered his condolences and wished a speedy recovery to all those injured.
His Beatitude thanked the Patriarch for his interest and wishes, which he would ‘convey to the injured and to all members of the Permanent Holy Synod’.
Victims of the acid attack were: the metropolitans Nikodemos of Kassandreia, Kallinikos of Arta, Andreas of Driinoupolis, Dionysios IV of Zakynthos, Kyrillos of Kifissia, Demetrios of Goumenissa and Antonios of Glyfada who were all hospitalised at Laiko General Hospital and a policeman at the 401 military hospital.
Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias who visited them hospital said that four of them will remain there and one will be transferred for plastic surgery to KAT hospital north of Athens. The remaining two metropolitans will be transferred either to KAT or to the Eye Clinic of Gennimatas Hospital, depending on the outcome of their recovery, he said, adding that the prime minister had requested updates.