Lorenzo Warriner Pease was given an explanation as to why the Orthodox Churxh objected to missionaries:
We called at the Kypralli house at night and then he declared that the reason why the Patriarch opposes us is this: Formerly, the priests were the teachers and had immense power over the people. The children were taught by them strictness and severity to fear them and when they grew up, they retained much of the same feeling towards them. Moreover they (in Constantinople) had the favour of the chief ladies there and according to his statement neither party was any too virtuous. Through these ladies, the priests often became bishops. Now however it is different. The children are taught in other schools, are no longer a connection link between them and the ladies and moreover begin to see for themselves. The power of the priesthood has received a blow from which it cannot recover till they become virtuous and pious. He remarked that “we” meaning the more enlightened, will throw off the mask in 50 or 60 years.