Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia / The Metropolitan of Nea Ionia, Gabriel, sent his own message against violence after the AEK fan's murder.
Metropolitan N. Ionia, Philadelphia, Heraklion and Chalcedon, Gabriel, was present from the first minutes in the shocked society of his Diocese after the murder of the AEK fan, Michael.
He personally visited the offices of PAE AEK to express his condolences and his disgust for this horrible crime that shocked the region and the whole of Greece.
In fact, he performed trisago for the murdered 29-year-old young man Michalis. But the Metropolitan did not stop there, sending his own public message to all citizens through a publication of the Metropolis.
The message of Metropolitan N. Ionias Gabriel:
"On the occasion of the unjust and violent murder of the late Michalis Katsouris from Elefsina, friend and fan of AEK, I express my pain and disgust at this horrible crime that took place in the grounds of OPAP ARENA – Hagia Sophia. I pray to God to rest his soul, to give comfort to his loved ones and courage to us all.
These actions tarnish sports and turn it from a celebration to a sadness. I unequivocally condemn any form of violence and please all fans, our children, not to respond with violence. It is time to show our respect to the late Michalis, let us all pray for his soul, to highlight the culture and principles of our team and to make all Greeks part of the great history and heart that characterize the Athletic Association of Constantinople.
I pray that God helps the rest of the victims of sports violence who are hospitalized and quickly return to their families. I wish, to be the last blood we see on the pitches. No one deserves to lose their life in the beautiful field of sports and no one has the right to turn it into a field of controversy and warlike behavior. That's enough!
The Metropolitan of Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Heraklion and Chalkidon GABRIEL"