The Archons of the Phanar, who supported the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, have expressed concern over the increasing persecution of Christians around the world

The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate expressed deep concern over the escalation of violence and discrimination against Christians around the world, calling on the international community to immediately address this global crisis. According to the Orthodox Times, the number of victims has reached critical levels, making Christianity the most persecuted religious group on the planet.

An official statement signed by Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis notes that approximately 400 million Christians face persecution or violence. These figures are corroborated by reports from Open Doors, which indicate that in 2025 alone, nearly 5,000 people were killed for religious reasons—an average of 13 victims per day. The total number of believers at risk has increased by eight million over the past year, reaching a record 388 million.

Of particular concern is the fact that 201 million of those affected are women and girls, as well as 110 million children under the age of 15. Open Doors Director Christian Nani described these figures as a “tragic record.” The crisis is most acute in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, where religious intolerance and conflicts threaten the lives of thousands of people.

The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate are calling on international institutions and human rights organizations to make the protection of religious freedom their top priority by putting pressure on governments and actors responsible for human rights violations. Dr. Limberakis emphasized that the protection of religious freedom remains the central mission of the Archons, and called on believers around the world to show solidarity and intensify their prayers for their brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith.

As a reminder, the Order of Archons of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the United States previously leveled harsh accusations against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), claiming that it persecutes and attacks members of the OCU. This statement was made in response to a meeting between a delegation of U.S. Orthodox churches and American politicians, during which the difficult situation of the canonical UOC was discussed.