The Abbot of the Esphigmenos Monastery, Elder Bartholomew, sent a message to the Ukrainian people via the internet during the visit of a group of priests and laity from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, led by Metropolitan Alexander of Pereyoslav and Vishnevsky, at the monastery of Esphigmenos on Mount Athos on October 9, 2022.
The abbot of the Esphigmenos Monastery sent wishes for mental and physical health to the Ukrainian people and assured them of the prayers of the Athonite fathers for God to give them strength and courage for the success of their righteous struggle and for the commemoration of those who unfairly lost their lives.
Abbot Bartholomew stressed:
“People of Ukraine, you are our brothers, we are your brothers! We pray and wish with you, waiting for the day when the bells of freedom will ring joyfully!”
