Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens has issued a strong appeal to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging immediate action to protect the Greek Orthodox community in Syria amidst an increasingly dangerous situation. Highlighting the deteriorating conditions in the war-torn nation, the Archbishop expressed grave concern for the survival of the Christian presence in the region.
“The situation in war-torn Syria has once again become extremely volatile. The internal armed conflict has deteriorated further, with dramatic consequences for the civilian population,” Archbishop Ieronymos stated. “The advance of extremist armed groups and the capture of Aleppo threaten the interfaith composition of the region’s population, which, among others, has included since antiquity a Hellenic and Greek Orthodox community—under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East—as well as Christian populations of Syriac Jacobites, Armenians, and other Christians. Due to the protracted conflict and its tragic and horrifying consequences, there is now a looming danger of the complete eradication and disappearance of Greek Orthodoxy and Christianity from the wider region, with all the inevitable repercussions this would entail for the future of the area itself.”
The Church of Greece expressed its solidarity with the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, John X, and Metropolitan Ephraim of Aleppo, as well as the persecuted Greek Orthodox faithful in Syria. The Church extended its support to the Christian leaders of other Churches in Syria, emphasizing the shared plight of all those suffering under the ongoing conflict.
Archbishop Ieronymos called upon the Greek Government, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to spearhead diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives aimed at stabilizing the region and securing the safety of Greek Orthodox and expatriate communities. He further urged international organizations and the global community to take decisive action to end the long-standing and destructive conflict, rebuild the affected areas, and preserve the region’s invaluable interfaith coexistence and cultural diversity.
“The preservation of this heritage is essential,” he emphasized, “not only for the Christians of Syria but for the entire world, as a testament to mutual respect and cooperation.”
Read the full statement below:
The situation in war-torn Syria has once again become extremely volatile. The internal armed conflict has deteriorated further, with dramatic consequences for the civilian population. The advance of extremist armed groups and the capture of Aleppo threaten the interfaith composition of the region’s population, which, among others, has included since antiquity a Hellenic and Greek Orthodox community—under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East—as well as Christian populations of Syriac Jacobites, Armenians, and other Christians. Due to the protracted conflict and its tragic and horrifying consequences, there is now a looming danger of the complete eradication and disappearance of Greek Orthodoxy and Christianity from the wider region, with all the inevitable repercussions this would entail for the future of the area itself.
The Holy Church of Greece expresses its profound concern over the unfolding situation in Syria, as well as its sincere and fraternal solidarity with His Beatitude, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, John X, and with His Eminence, Metropolitan Ephraim of Aleppo, the long-suffering Greek Orthodox faithful of Syria, the Christian leaders of the Churches of Syria, and all those who are persecuted and at risk. The Church encourages the Greek Government, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to undertake diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives to normalize the situation and safeguard the presence of Greek Orthodox and Greek expatriates in Syria. It calls upon international organizations and the global community to contribute in every way possible and effectively to the end of the long-standing and devastating conflict, to the establishment of peace, the reconstruction of the region, and the preservation of its precious and unique interfaith coexistence and diversity, based on mutual respect and cooperation.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
