The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed clear and unequivocal support for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in response to recent attacks directed at him by Russian state agencies.
During a briefing of diplomatic correspondents on January 14, 2026, the Press Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lana Zohiou, responded to a journalist’s question by stating: “We express our full and unwavering support for the Ecumenical Patriarch and fully align ourselves with the statement issued by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”
The same line of support was reiterated the following day by the Greek Government Spokesperson, Pavlos Marinakis, commenting on the renewed attacks launched by Russian state services against the Primus of Orthodoxy. Speaking during the briefing of political editors on January 15, Marinakis underlined that it is a “sacred duty of all Orthodox Christians” to stand by the Ecumenical Patriarch. He emphasized that Patriarch Bartholomew is “a person who, beyond the credentials he has demonstrated as the leader of our Church, has taught faith and humanitarian values.”
The Ecumenical Patriarchate responded swiftly, firmly rejecting the allegations. In its official statement, it underlined that “fabricated scenarios, false news, insults, and manufactured information of every kind spread by propagandists do not deter the Ecumenical Patriarchate from continuing its ministry and its universal mission.”
Also, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon commented on the recent attack: “This is not the first attack. Such attacks usually come from ecclesiastical quarters, but this time they came from political ones. In the current situation in Russia, the two pillars, political and ecclesiastical, are communicating vessels, so this does not surprise us. Whether the attacks come from one side or the other, the same line is being followed.”
