The hierarch of the Greek Church defended the UOC

Metropolitan Seraphim of Kitirsky stated that “the Orthodox martyr people of Ukraine and its canonical Orthodox Church under the leadership of Metropolitan Onufry and his Holy Hierarchy are cruelly and mercilessly persecuted by the leadership of the anti-canonical “hierarchy” of the OCU and the “sword” of the Ukrainian state power.

“Recently, we mourned the thousands who died after a shocking and devastating earthquake in homologous Syria and Turkey. There was no less pain and no less sorrow for the victims of the tragedy in Tempi.

And along with these sad events comes another very sad event of spiritual texture and significance – the declared cruel and merciless persecution of two hundred monks and novices of the famous Kiev Lavra by order of the Ukrainian state authorities.

17 years ago, during my first service as a member of the Synod (2005-2006), I had the blessing, on behalf of the Holy Synod under the late Archbishop Christodoulos, to represent the Church of Greece at the celebrations in honor of the then Beatitude Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine , on the occasion of the completion of 40 years of priestly and hierarchical service.

At that time, I was given an exceptional opportunity and blessing to venerate the shrines and holy relics of the Kyiv Lavra. It was a very touching and unforgettable pilgrimage in a sacred and spiritual atmosphere. The holy relics, dressed in archpriest or priestly robes, exuded the fragrance of holiness. Unforgettable moments of holy deification and spiritual rebirth.

These holy places of the famous Kyiv Lavra, which has been alive, prosperous and spiritually radiant for 10 centuries, have recently been revived and restored by two hundred monks.

But the ruling “hierarchy” of the OCU, with the power and imposition of the ruling state, conspired to expel these monks from the monastery of their repentance by the end of tomorrow (March 29, 2023). In this depressing and base case, lamentations and weeping are appropriate. “And whoever suffers (from them) will suffer condemnation, whoever he may be” (Gal 5:10).

I express my fervent desire and hope that both our Holy Synod of the Church of Greece and other local Autocephalous Orthodox Churches will take an appropriate position and strongly condemn this anti-spiritual outrage against holy and sanctified souls.”.

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