“It was completely wrong of Putin because there was no cause. If Ukraine wanted to self-determine, to join NATO or the EU, it is its right. Is it a state under surveillance?’ Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Dodoni, Vice President of the Greek-Russian Association, stressed in relation to the decision of the Russian President to invade its neighboring Ukraine.
“There was no need now to have war, in two orthodox, neighboring countries of almost the same origin? When we used to talk about Western imperialism, now what do we say about Easterners? It is tragic to kill people for the stubbornness of a tycoon,” he said.
Asked how President Putin, a Christian Orthodox who we have often seen cross himself, proceeded with this invasion, the Metropolitan of Dodoni said “the more crosses you see someone make, the more you should be worried.”
Ukrainians remind us of the Greeks of 1940
“It is a dramatic situation of a people under attack for no reason and the resistance of the Ukrainian people who are much smaller in forces and weapons reveals a dynamism that reminds me of the attitude of Greece in 1940. We were few compared to the enemy and yet we resisted. We fell in the end but during the occupation, we did not give up,” said Metropolitan Chrysostomos.
What is happening in Ukraine at the moment is at the expense of Russia first and then of the rest, he added, “therefore, the great and powerful Russia should not condescend to attack a smaller and weak state.”
Asked about the attitude of the Russian church, Chrysostomos called it “the same as Putin’s. They are accustomed to slaves, to servitude, they cannot understand that one can live in one’s independence. They do not want the neighbor to be independent and not to live at their mercy.”
The Church of Greece added, “with a communiqué yesterday of the Archbishop, is in favor of peace, in favor of a ceasefire and that we are opening our borders for those in need and to care for them.”
Regarding the outcome of the war, Metropolitan of Dodoni said: “When you see a war that has not been successful for 8-10 days going on, you understand what the results will be. Selfishness trumps reason. There is no logic where ego prevails. The aftermath will be at the expense of Russia. Unfortunately. I am not delighted to say that. For nothing to do with war and misery, a Bishop can rejoice. May they think rationally and stop the war immediately. We want peace, if they support peace we will support them.”
They are perpetrators and they should get serious
Regarding the announcement of the Russian Embassy calling on the state and political leadership of the country to get serious, Metropolitan of Dodoni pointed out “let them get serious first and then we see for our own seriousness. They cannot become teachers in the Greek state when they are the perpetrators. It is a bad example, one cannot imitate and respect them. One can only feel sorry for them. We should feel sorry for the Russians because they will face the consequences and it is a pity because people will pay for the choices of their leaders.”
Source: ertnews.gr