eKathimerini — A senior cleric has said that Greece’s “atheist prime minister” was to blame for the devastating wildfires that have claimed at least 80 lives since Monday.
“Atheist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras draws the wrath of God,” Bishop Amvrosios of Kalavryta in the Peloponnese wrote on his blog Tuesday and adds “Greece is damaged from rain and fire!”
“In times of distance from the path of God will manifest his wrath with various natural catastrophic events such as earthquakes, famine, epidemics and illness pestiferous, bloodshed, criminality, devastating fires, smoke cloud that will go up to the sky! Who, I wonder, is responsible for distancing the Modern Greek from God’s path? Who else? The atheist Prime Minister, Mr. Alexios Tsipras and his Associates: Here are some of their accomplishments,” writes the cleric. (from KeeptalkingGreece) – List of sins follows including the unmarried status of the PM and that his children are not baptized
“The atheists of SYRIZA are the causes of the general disaster! Their atheism, draws the wrath of God!” he added.
His comments drew immediate condemnation on social media, including from other Orthodox clerics.
In a statement Tuesday, the Archbishopric of Athens said Amvrosios was “only expressing his personal opinion.”
