A Greek Orthodox priest who unexpectedly went viral earlier this year for his experimental drone album Paradise Metal has addressed a series of allegations surrounding him in a new statement. As first reported by Pitchfork, Father Dionysios Tabakis was recently targeted by a Greek activist group, the Argolida Anti-Fascist and Anti-Racist Front, after uncovering a video of him performing a service at the opening of a new office building for the Greek neo-Nazi organisation Golden Dawn (then an active political party) back in 2013.
In his statement, Father Tabakis noted that the service was one requested by his “superior authority” and that he was in attendance on “official duty” only. “During my years as a Priest, I have also attended other consecration ceremonies connected with other political and municipal groups,” he wrote.
He denied, however, any personal ties with the since-outlawed group. “I am against Nationalism, because it has only brought blood and wars to humanity,” he wrote. “The only ones who have interests in nationalism and borders are the weapons factories that spread death. Besides, my grandparents from Crete fought Hitler and Nazism, so I follow their spirit.”
In the second half of his statement, Father Tabakis addressed allegations of homophobia following the unearthing of blog posts written in 2024. Translating from the original Greek, it is said that Tabakis referred to same-sex marriage – which was only just recently ratified in Greece – as “a sodomic monstrosity”. Rather than deny the allegations, however, Father Tabakis instead said: “My view on homosexuality is the same as that of the Orthodox Church for 2000 years, nothing more, nothing less.”
He did, however, say that homosexual people were owed “love and acceptance” due to having experienced “great rejection from their environment, especially from their families”. I also always respect the freedom of my fellow man,” he wrote. “After all, with freedom we sin and with freedom we repent. It is better to sin with freedom than to be virtuous with oppression.”
Father Tabakis concluded his statement by acknowleding that his “path and beliefs as an Orthodox Priest differ significantly from some of the values and cultural positions represented within contemporary experimental music festivals.” As such, he has since pulled out from performing at the Making Time festival in Philadelphia next month, which would have marked his secular live debut in North America.
The priest released his debut album, Paradise Metal, in April 2026 via the Greek independent label Heat Crimes.
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