A Greek Orthodox priest, known for his home‑recorded album that blends drone metal and religious dubstep and has earned him a cult following in experimental music circles, has released a statement clarifying his position on homosexuality and his views on the Greek radical right.
In the statement, which was shared with The Guardian, Father Dionysios Tabakis said, “My music reflects a commitment to unity, love, empathy and helping anyone who is in need, wronged or suffering, regardless of who they are, what they believe, or whether they are a saint or a sinner.”
His political views have come under scrutiny after two blog posts published in 2024, coinciding with Greece’s landmark decision to become the first Orthodox‑majority nation to legalise same‑sex marriage.
The blog posts on the Orthodox Christian WordPress site The Doors The Doors described gay people as “Sodomites”, characterised gay marriage as σοδομικὸ τερατούργημα (“sodomitic monstrosity”) and called the same‑sex marriage bill “blasphemous”.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Tabakis said, “My view on homosexuality aligns with that of the Orthodox Church as it has for 2,000 years – nothing more and nothing less.”
“We owe homosexual people love and acceptance, because many have suffered severe rejection from their surroundings, especially their families. Over the years, homosexual individuals have also sought my confessional guidance, and I have always received them with acceptance and love.”
In the statement he continues to describe homosexuality as a sin, adding, “I always respect the freedom of my fellow man. After all, it is through freedom that we sin and through freedom that we repent. It is better to sin with freedom than to be virtuous through oppression.”
His debut album, *Paradise Metal*, received a critical score of 7.6 from Pitchfork, the influential experimental music publication, and he has been profiled in major international outlets such as The Guardian and The New York Times.
A separate controversy resurfaced when a 2013 YouTube video, recently revived on Greek social media, captured Tabakis conducting a sanctification ceremony at the opening of an office building for Golden Dawn, the neo‑Nazi political party that held parliamentary seats from 2015 to 2019.
The party was outlawed in 2020, and its leaders were sentenced to prison for crimes including murder, assault and weapons possession.
Tabakis explained that he performed the consecration as part of his official duties, at the request of his superior, and that he has also conducted similar ceremonies for other political and municipal entities.
Heat Crimes, the Greek label behind *Paradise Metal*, told Pitchfork that, “In Greek Orthodox practice, priests routinely perform agiasmos, blessing ceremonies for homes, shops, businesses, schools, public institutions, military facilities and other premises. When a politician or political organisation invites a local priest to bless new premises, that act alone does not imply that the priest or the church endorses that organisation. The crucial distinction lies between performing a religious blessing and granting a political endorsement.”
Tabakis stated in his statement that he opposes nationalism, noting, “Because it has only brought blood and wars to humanity.”
“The only ones who profit from nationalism and borders are the weapons factories that spread death. My grandparents from Crete fought against Hitler and Nazism, and I follow their spirit. One reason I have removed the frets from my guitar is my mental need not to be confined by borders.”