Greek bishop convicted of hate speech steps down

An octogenarian Greek Orthodox bishop convicted of inciting violence against gays remained defiant as he stepped down on Monday, calling his sentence a "badge of honour".

"The Gospel clearly and categorically condemns perverse relations," 81-year-old Bishop Amvrosios told ANT1 TV.

Homosexuals "are children of God, but sinful children," said Amvrosios, who informed his congregation on Sunday that he was retiring after 41 years in the post. "I need to look after myself," he said.

Bishop Amvrosios, whose real name is Athanassios Lenis, in 2015 labelled gay people the "dregs of society" and called on his followers to "spit on" them in a written address.

In March last year, the elderly cleric was charged with public incitement to violence and abuse of ecclesiastical duties, but was originally found not guilty and released by a court in the western town of Aigio, which is part of his diocese.

The case was the first of its kind in Greece involving a representative of the influential Orthodox Church.

Prosecutors appealed the original verdict to the criminal court in Aigio, which in January handed down a seven-month suspended sentence.

The bishop has been known to publicly appear alongside leaders of Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn, and his original acquittal sparked criticism from human rights groups.