On Wednesday afternoon, September 4, a bullet struck the chapel of the Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Priests at the chapel, located at 4 Bokšto Street in Vilnius, discovered that a window had been broken and a bullet was lodged in the window sill.
The priests immediately notified the police, who arrived on the scene and began an investigation.
Statements were taken from the priests and the authorities have opened a formal investigation into the incident.
This event comes after the recent visits of the Ecumenical Patriarch to the country and the strengthening of relations with the Lithuanian authorities.
Specifically, on March 22, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew signed a cooperation agreement with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė aimed at strengthening relations and cooperation in various areas of mutual interest.
The agreement opened the possibility for the establishment of an Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Lithuania, a development supported by local Orthodox priests and faithful.
The Ecumenical Patriarch emphasized the importance of respecting freedom of conscience and religion, as outlined in the Lithuanian Constitution, the Declaration of Human Rights, and the Encyclical of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church.
Prime Minister Šimonytė expressed her gratitude for the visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch and acknowledged its historical significance. Noting the historical ties between the Lithuanian Orthodox and the Patriarchate of Constantinople, she noted that recent geopolitical conflicts and Patriarch Kirill’s support for Russian aggression in Ukraine have made it increasingly difficult for some Lithuanian Orthodox to approach the Moscow Patriarchate.
She assured the Ecumenical Patriarch and local Orthodox Christians that the Lithuanian government would uphold the freedom of belief and religious rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s decision to reinstate five Lithuanian priests who had been expelled by the Moscow Patriarchate as an important step in restoring religious justice and hope to Orthodox Christians in Lithuania.
In a heartfelt letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė expressed her deep gratitude for the Patriarch’s “prayers and blessings,” which have been a “source of immense strength” for Lithuania and its people. She acknowledged the Patriarch’s “fatherly care” for Orthodox Lithuanians and emphasized the significant impact of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s support in the country.
Prime Minister Šimonytė also noted the significant progress in relations between Lithuania and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, stating that “the establishment of the Exarchate in Lithuania is a testimony of our mutual commitment” and expressed hope for future cooperation.
Edited and translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
