• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Saturday, May 21, 2022
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Orthodox Times (en)
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Greek Diaspora
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Greek Diaspora
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
No Result
View All Result
Orthodox Times (en)
No Result
View All Result

Abbot of the Mount Athos Monastery of Esphigmenou: Ukraine, for the faith of Christ and freedom

Mar 14, 2022 | 15:53
in Opinions
Abbot of the Mount Athos Monastery of Esphigmenou: Ukraine, for the faith of Christ and freedom

by Archimandrite Bartholomew, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou

A lot of people ask why the Ukrainians are so resistant to the “special military operation”. They consider it to be a matter of a simple transition of power to a ruler of a similar people: “same faith, similar language, they will just pay taxes to another ruler. What is the problem?”

Others see the issue as a conflict between two global superpowers, where “one is being wronged by the other, has come threateningly close to it, has not respected its vital space”, etc., as if the Ukrainian people are not entitled to have independent and free will and to choose the values and culture they want to live with.

The aggressive, expansionist and voracious state cannot tolerate the existence of an independent Church in Kiev. This fact disrupts its plans to create a common supranational space, including the holy of holies of the Rus people, with a supposedly common culture and a common Church controlled by the stronger state.

The occupation of Kiev is a “necessary step” to further fulfill their imaginary rights about the “Third Rome”. The attacking state cannot tolerate the annihilation of its narrative and the undoing of centuries of effort to “liberate the Queen of Cities”. The ruler of the state is called upon to become “Great” in the history of his people in order to fulfill the “vow of his nation”.

A lot of people think that the current war in Ukraine is simply a war of economic interests, territorial sovereignty and the possession of natural resources. But it is more than that. It is a war of civilizations. It is a war between authoritarian chauvinism and freedom.

A war between messianic pharisaism – that fantasizes its rights to overrun cities “where gay parades take place” – and true faith in Christ. At stake is the right of the Ukrainian people to practice their Orthodox faith as they wish, that is, in freedom, love, discrimination and reconciliation, as the true Orthodox faith is.

This war is going on in different parts of the world. It is a war between two cultural paradigms; a spiritual war being waged in the souls of millions of people all over the earth. The war between fear-phobia-pharisaism and freedom-responsibility-love.

Thus, in many countries of the West, even in our country, through this spiritual war, the authoritarian leader has already allured and subjugated the souls of many people who are spiritually like him. People who turn against their own countries, betraying their values and culture, becoming “janissaries”, as we would say in Greece.

The same spiritual warfare was going on during the Christ’s presence on earth. Within the same nation with the same faith in God there were people with different views. On one hand there were the Pharisees and their followers and on the other hand there were the disciples of Christ, the first Christians! People with Pharisaic concepts were stoning adulteresses.

They did so to avoid looking inwards – inside themselves, at their own sins – at all costs. Jesus Christ began to write down their sins on the dust and told them “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone”. Tax collectors and prostitutes approached Christ because of His love, which changed them.

In contrast, modern would-be “messiahs” and their local apologists spread the word that they will impose “moral purity” by sword and fire on the “degenerate and decadent” – as they like to say – West.

Symbols do not make an Orthodox Christian, but beliefs and actions do. In Ukraine there is no war between two nations of the same faith.

There is a war between a state that uses the heresies of fundamentalism and ethno-racialism as its expansionist doctrines – tools used by a “demigod messiah” through a totally controlled local Church – against a people who want to live freely and be able to believe in the Church of Christ in the truest way.

This example of Christian life – free and independent of secular authorities – is what the attackers want to eradicate before it spreads to their own country.

“For the Holy Faith of Christ and the freedom of our country” we, the Greeks, fought 200 years ago! The Ukrainians are fighting for the same goals today. The only right stance is to stand by them! Any other attitude, which does not support the just, will be a great condemnation of our people.

We wish our Ukrainian brothers and sisters in Christ and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine that God will strengthen them! They fight heroically under adverse conditions!

Continuing our prayer:

For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

For the pious and orthodox Christians, let us pray to the Lord.

For Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and all the Ukrainian clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.

“And the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it!”

Tags: Opinions

Follow OrthodoxTimes.com on Google News and learn all the news about Orthodoxy in Greece and worldwide.

All the latest developments in the Orthodox world, society and humankind, at the moment they happen, at OrthodoxTimes.com


Related Posts

Unanimous condemnation of the war (including by the Russians) at the WCC
Opinions

Unanimous condemnation of the war (including by the Russians) at the WCC

May 17, 2022
Fr Georgios Lekkas: From God-Forsakennes to Resurrection. The case of the Myrrhbearers
Opinions

Fr Georgios Lekkas: From God-Forsakennes to Resurrection. The case of the Myrrhbearers

May 12, 2022
A post-war Ukrainian religious reconciliation – An appeal by the CEMES
Opinions

A post-war Ukrainian religious reconciliation – An appeal by the CEMES

April 6, 2022
Fr. Georgios Lekkas: The “higher mathematics” of the Cross – Addition through subtraction
Opinions

Fr. Georgios Lekkas: The “higher mathematics” of the Cross – Addition through subtraction

March 30, 2022
Divine Liturgy in Kyiv by Metropolitan Epiphaniy for Saint Theodore (PHOTOS)
Opinions

Ukraine and the ecclesiastical guilt

March 26, 2022
Fr. Georgios Lekkas: A Sunday of Orthodoxy different from others
Opinions

Fr. Georgios Lekkas: A Sunday of Orthodoxy different from others

March 16, 2022
Load More
Next Post
Archbishop of Athens to Kirill: Resist the war plans of secular leaders

Archbishop of Athens to Kirill: Resist the war plans of secular leaders

Latest News

Memory of the Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine and Helena, Equal to the Apostles

Memory of the Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine and Helena, Equal to the Apostles

by NewsRoom
May 21, 2022 | 11:23
0

The Church celebrates the memory of Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine and Helena, Equal to the Apostles. Saint Helena was...

The feast of the appearance of the sign of the cross in the heavens at the Patriarchate

The feast of the appearance of the sign of the cross in the heavens at the Patriarchate

by NewsRoom
May 21, 2022 | 11:14
0

On Friday, May 7/20, 2022, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the appearance of the sign of the Precious...

Assistant Bishop of Botoșani: A chanter’s work does not end when the church service is over (VIDEO)

Assistant Bishop of Botoșani: A chanter’s work does not end when the church service is over (VIDEO)

by NewsRoom
May 20, 2022 | 18:53
0

The Byzantine chant is a unique adornment of the service to the Lord. Still, the work of the chanter...

Revelations by Metropolitan of Laodicea and Ev. Venizelos for the role of the Russian Church

Revelations by Metropolitan of Laodicea and Ev. Venizelos for the role of the Russian Church

by NewsRoom
May 20, 2022 | 18:18
0

In the book of Alexandros Massavetas, "The Third Rome – Moscow and the Throne of Orthodoxy", it is described...

Archbishop of Lower Danube: The Church’s young people are the apostles of our deliverance from loneliness

Archbishop of Lower Danube: The Church’s young people are the apostles of our deliverance from loneliness

by NewsRoom
May 20, 2022 | 18:00
0

Last week, Archbishop Casian of Lower Danube opened the meeting of the National Council of the Romanian Orthodox Christian...

Archbishop of Finland: Disappointed by WCC report on the war in Ukraine

Archbishop of Finland: Disappointed by WCC report on the war in Ukraine

by NewsRoom
May 20, 2022 | 17:24
0

Archbishop Leo of Helsinki and all of Finland expressed his disappointment at the report of the Inter-Orthodox Pre-Assembly Consultation...

Newsletter

Sign up for our weekly newsletter



Quick Links

  • Orthodoxy
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
  • History
  • Press Releases

Get Social

About Us

Advertise

Contact

© 2022 OrthodoxTimes.com
digital world media

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Greek Diaspora
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
  • Greek Version

© 2022 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT