BY SOTIRIS LETSIOS*
The daily work of Metropolitan Stefanos of Philippi, Neapolis and Thassos is important and multifaceted. Metropolitan Stefanos spoke about his pastoral ministry, his relationship with the faithful, and the stance of the Church on the challenges facing Greek society today in the following interview published in the newspaper Orthodoxi Alitheia.
Q: Soon it will mark ten years since you assumed your duties at the Holy Metropolis of Philippi, Neapolis and Thassos. What assessment would you make of your ministry during this period?
A: This is a question that requires much reflection and careful thought before it can truly be answered. Yet there is one defining moment in our lives when we become fully aware of the responsibility entrusted to us and of everything taking place around us. For me, that moment was when I assumed the office of Bishop and Metropolitan of the Holy Apostolic Metropolis of Philippi, Neapolis and Thassos, founded by Apostle Paul in the middle of the first century AD. Throughout these years, I feel deep gratitude to our Holy Triune God, who granted me health, strength, and worthy collaborators here in our region, so that together we could continue the work of the Church’s ministry, a ministry rooted in love, communication, and personal encounter with the faithful. By the grace of God, I have had the opportunity to visit and celebrate services in all the parishes of our Metropolis, in the regions of Kavala, Chrysoupolis, Philippi, and Thassos.
A journey towards salvation
Everywhere I go, people receive me and speak with me with love. I am very happy when I talk to them. From the very beginning, I have never ceased celebrating the Divine Liturgy, preaching, and striving to nurture the spiritual and religious consciousness of both the clergy and the faithful people of God. I must also emphasize that my cooperation with the local authorities has been excellent, and on many occasions we have worked together on important initiatives for the benefit of our region. At the same time, I believe that the word “assessment” is not entirely appropriate in our case. Rather than an assessment, what exists is a continuous journey — the journey of humanity’s salvation from sin and eternal death through participation in the uncreated grace of God. Our Church is not merely a social institution or a human organization upon which its mission depends. The Orthodox Christian Church is the divine-human organism whose Head is our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the Son and Word of God. We Christians are its members — both those of us still living on earth and all our brethren who have departed to the heavenly realm and await the resurrection of all people. Within this continuous journey of the Church toward eternity, all of us meet in the mystery of the Divine Eucharist. The ultimate purpose of our life is union with Christ and salvation — as I mentioned earlier — from sin and eternal death. At the same time, because we live within human society and upon this earth, which is our earthly home, the Church also manifests itself through social, charitable, and cultural work, offering sacrificial love to our fellow human beings and care for the natural environment.
My predecessors
During these years of my ministry as Metropolitan, I have always kept alive the memory and work of my blessed predecessors, Metropolitans Chrysostomos Chatzistavrou, Alexandros Kantonis, and Prokopios Tsakoumakas. With great spiritual strength and self-sacrifice, they revived this region and, through their rich pastoral, charitable, social, national, and ecclesiastical work, laid firm foundations for the continuation of the Church’s mission in the fields of love, culture, and spiritual life. Their efforts were always directed toward supporting our fellow human beings and strengthening the spiritual life and unity of the flock. They endured many hardships, wars, disasters, epidemics, persecutions, and slander, yet they were also blessed with the support of faithful people who have always been able to recognize the sincerity and purity of the Church’s ministry. Today, my own life and ministry have become deeply connected with the struggles and concerns of our region. Over the years, through my communication and encounters with countless people, I have drawn hope and strength to continue the work handed down by my predecessors. I thank God for the blessings I experience each day as I walk through the streets of Kavala and am greeted by people of every age. Through their smiles and peaceful expressions, they convey their respect for our traditions and faith, their concerns for the future, and their appreciation for the multifaceted philanthropic and social ministry carried out by the local Church.
Q: Christians in many parts of the world are persecuted and their lives are threatened. How should the international community react?
A: This question is very difficult to answer, especially if we consider that at this time wars concern a large part of humanity. This is the case in Ukraine and the Middle East. However, we must also acknowledge a profound truth that, unfortunately, many people overlook because of human passions and the gradual erosion of essential moral values. The peoples and opposing sides in the Middle East and the broader region of Mesopotamia all profess faith in the one true God. This is clearly attested in their sacred texts. Yet nowhere in these holy books — revered alike by Jews, Christians, and Muslims — does God command people to hate or destroy one another. In fact, Christ says to forgive our enemies.
On the contrary, according to our faith and as recorded in the inspired Book of Genesis, the region of Mesopotamia holds a unique and sacred place in human history. It is regarded as the land where the first-created human beings lived, between the great rivers of the ancient world — the Tigris, the Euphrates, the Nile, and the Indus. In these places lived the first man. There, according to Scripture, stood the Tower of Babel, ancient Babylon itself. This is where Noah, his children, lived. In these places lived Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his twelve children.
Today, bloodshed, bombings, death, and destruction impose their tragic and horrifying image upon the entire world, spreading fear, anxiety, despair, hatred, intolerance, and conflict. These peoples must lay down their arms and say: “We will fight no more.” This tragedy cannot be allowed to continue. We are brothers and sisters. God is one. We must live. If we continue to fight each other then very few will remain alive and the destruction will be enormous. For peace to prevail, faith in Christ is needed above all.
How important is the environment to humans? It matters a lot. That’s where the oxygen is. But, unfortunately, there are wildfires everywhere. I often find that only a small percentage of fires are caused by natural factors. It appears, however, that the vast majority are the result of human actions for various reasons. That is why I often ask myself: the person who starts a fire and destroys forests, trees, animals, and plant life, where does he believe his own children will live in the future? How will they breathe oxygen? Our planet, which God created for us, like the solar system, is our home. Difficult times lie ahead. Scientists already warn us about melting glaciers, floods, natural disasters, and profound changes affecting the planet and its environment. We must come together, regain our senses, and seriously decide what must be done for the good of our children and for the future of the world.
Q: Does the Church of Greece correctly interpret the changes taking place in Greek society?
A: I sincerely believe that the sweeping changes taking place today on a global scale have brought about tremendous developments in communication and the transmission of information, now moving at extraordinary speed within mere seconds. At the same time, however, many difficulties arise for those of us who belong to the older generation in trying to communicate meaningfully with young people. Our language, our education, our history, and our culture are constantly being undermined, with the result that many young people are no longer adequately informed about the essential and defining moments of our historical and spiritual heritage. The Church must therefore continue, by every possible means, to proclaim the message of the Gospel directly, responsibly, simultaneously, and effectively. At the same time, it must preserve and transmit to society the richness of our spiritual and cultural tradition: the wisdom of the ancient Greek philosophers, the legacy of Alexander the Great, the witness of the first Christian martyrs who suffered under the persecutions of the pagan Roman Empire, and the teaching of the great Fathers of the Church — Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom.
The Church must also highlight the immense contribution of the great composers and hymnographers of Byzantine music and ecclesiastical chant, beginning with Romanos the Melodist and Saint John of Damascus; the ascetics and saints; the invaluable heritage of the Patristic tradition of Byzantium; Saint Gregory Palamas; the Neomartyrs; the heroes of the Greek Revolution of 1821; the generation of the “Ochi” of 1940; and all the critical moments that shaped the history of our nation.
At the same time, the Church should continually bring before society examples of people who struggle with dignity and integrity: devoted families, distinguished scientists, physicians, educators, and the great musicians and artists who enriched humanity through their works across every era. The Church must uphold and promote the sacred institution of marriage and family life, as well as the raising of children according to Christian and sound pedagogical principles, with moral formation, proper education, and respect for human dignity and values. It must continue to inspire the great ideals of justice, freedom, human rights, equality, and solidarity among people. At the same time, the Church must always stand beside those who suffer — the stranger, the helpless, the poor, the imprisoned, the addicted, the sick, the persecuted, and the refugee. It must defend the rights of the weak, the orphaned child, and every child affected by war, displacement, and migration. It is, of course, an undeniable reality that the Church has always acted in this spirit throughout history, drawing from the living experience of the Holy Fathers, the spiritual teachers, and the saints. Nevertheless, today this ministry and message must also be communicated through modern means and contemporary structures of information and communication.
*Republished from the newspaper “Orthodoxi Alitheia”
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
