Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has issued a strong condemnation against statements made by Metropolitan Theoleptus of Iconium, who criticized the mother of a victim from Greece’s deadliest train disaster.
The tragic collision on February 28, 2023, in Tempe resulted in 57 fatalities, marking it as the most severe rail accident in Greece’s history. Maria Karystianou, whose son was among the deceased, is the president of the Tempe Victims’ Association and has been advocating for accountability in the ongoing investigation.
In a controversial social media post, Theoleptus accused Karystianou of exploiting her son’s death for personal benefit. He questioned, “Does she resemble a grieving mother? Everything about her appears orchestrated,” while also mockingly commenting on her appearance as being “freshly done.”
Patriarch Bartholomew condemned these remarks as both offensive and unacceptable. “No one has the right to insult a grieving mother,” he affirmed. “We support the victims and their families and have faith in the justice system to thoroughly investigate the causes of this tragedy.” He urged Theoleptus to issue a public apology if indeed he made such remarks.