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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\u2019s deadliest train disaster.<\/p>\n
The tragic collision on February 28, 2023, in Tempe resulted in 57 fatalities, marking it as the most severe rail accident in Greece\u2019s history. Maria Karystianou, whose son was among the deceased, is the president of the Tempe Victims\u2019 Association and has been advocating for accountability in the ongoing investigation.<\/p>\n
In a controversial social media post, Theoleptus accused Karystianou of exploiting her son\u2019s death for personal benefit. He questioned, \u201cDoes she resemble a grieving mother? Everything about her appears orchestrated,\u201d while also mockingly commenting on her appearance as being \u201cfreshly done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patriarch Bartholomew condemned these remarks as both offensive and unacceptable. \u201cNo one has the right to insult a grieving mother,\u201d he affirmed. \u201cWe support the victims and their families and have faith in the justice system to thoroughly investigate the causes of this tragedy.\u201d He urged Theoleptus to issue a public apology if indeed he made such remarks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n