Monasteries of Greece and Athos speak out in support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Abbots, abbesses, monks and nuns of 39 monasteries in Greece and Athos signed a statement in support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The text mentions the facts of the persecution of the Church and criticizes Law No. 3894, aimed at banning the activities of the UOC. The text was published on the UOJ website.

“And everyone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12).

Persecution is a sign of the authenticity of the Christian life, according to the Apostle Paul, and the Lord says: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10).

In our time, when the world is plunged into the violence of weapons and stands on the brink of nuclear catastrophe, we join our voices and prayers with those of many Orthodox patriarchs, bishops, clergy and monks for the severely persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church, led by Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

As you know, after the illegal seizure of many churches and monasteries, arrests, persecution and imprisonment of bishops, the Ukrainian state in recent years has taken another step by adopting Law No. 8371/2024 on August 20, 2024, which outlaws the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the leadership of Metropolitan Onufriy, to whom the vast majority of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine (approximately 24 million people) remain faithful.

This law transforms Ukraine, a country with a “European orientation,” into a state of Hitler and Stalin’s time, legalizing persecution and suppression, hatred and slander, confiscation and closure of UOC churches, attacks and raids, even accompanied by bloodshed.

An illustrative example is the violent seizure of the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael of the UOC in Cherkasy, which took place on October 17, 2024.

On the night of October 17, at about 3 a.m., about 100 people in camouflage uniforms and with their faces covered broke into the cathedral. The attackers tried to seize the church by force. When a group of UOC believers led by Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv tried to defend the cathedral, the attackers opened fire with airguns, used chemicals, and beat and injured dozens of people, including Metropolitan Theodosius and priests.

Later, a video posted on the Internet showed the attackers conducting a “prayer” in the church, allegedly led by representatives of the so-called autocephalous “Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”

After the bloody seizure, Metropolitan Theodosius addressed his flock: “We did everything we could to protect the cathedral. Unfortunately, it is impossible to resist violence. We will try to achieve justice in the courts, but knowing how cases are decided in our country — solely on the basis of political expediency — there is almost no chance of success.”

The persecution continues with unrelenting intensity.

These events are reminiscent of the words of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who had previously condemned any acts of violence, especially against sacred places: “We strongly condemn any aggression against churches, from which only messages of love, peace and solidarity emanate.”

We pray to the Lord, the Lord of Peace, that He will soften the hardness of the hearts of the powerful, stop all violence and grant much-needed peace to Ukraine and the whole world.

May this happen through our Christian faith, repentance, patience and love, as His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy teaches us.

With blessings and wishes for a good and blessed year.”

Signatures of the abbots:

1. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Xiropotamos — Archimandrite Joseph and the brethren in Christ.

2. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Dohiar — Archimandrite Amphilochios and the brethren in Christ.

3. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Karakall — Archimandrite Philotheos and the brethren in Christ.

4. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Philotheos — Archimandrite Nicodemus and the brethren in Christ.

5. Hegumen of the Holy Monastery of Constamonite — Archimandrite Haralampios and the brethren in Christ.

6. Hegumen of the Holy Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Thesporotia — Archimandrite Methodius and the brethren in Christ.

7. Hegumen of the Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Soho, Langadas — Archimandrite Eulogius and the brethren in Christ.

8. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos Kallipetra, Veria — Archimandrite Palamas and the brethren in Christ.

9. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. Nicodemus the Great, Pyrgetos, Larissa — Archimandrite Irenaeus and brethren in Christ.

10. Abbot of the Holy Skete of St. Arsenios of Cappadocia, Ormilia, Chalkidiki — Archimandrite Synesios and brethren in Christ.

11. Abbot of the Holy Skete of St. John the Russian, Pefkhori, Chalkidiki — Archimandrite Gregory and the brethren in Christ.

12. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Pantocrator and the Holy Protection, Melisochori, Oreokastro — Archimandrite Anthony and the brethren in Christ.

13. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Gadzea, Volos — Archimandrite Gregory and the brethren in Christ.

14. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. Nicodemus the Great, Paonia, Kilkis — Archimandrite Chrysostomos and the brethren in Christ.

15. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of the Theotokos Makariotis, Domvrain, Thebes — Archimandrite Theodosius and brethren in Christ.

16. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. George, Langas, Paros — Archimandrite Meletios and the brethren in Christ.

17. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring, Longovarda, Paros — Archimandrite Nikodim and the brethren in Christ.

18. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas, Siamades, Kalambaka — Archimandrite Makarios and the brethren in Christ.

19. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas, Andros — Archimandrite Dorotheos and the brethren in Christ.

20. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. Paraskeva, Vakhlia, Gortinia — Archimandrite Ieronymos and the brethren in Christ.

21. Abbot of the Holy Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Valtesiniko, Gortinia — Monk Daniel and the brethren in Christ.

22. Hegumen of the Holy Skete of the Risen Christ, Piraeus — Archimandrite Methodius and the brethren in Christ.

23. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of Our Lady Myrtidiotissa, Fapsanon, Paros — Nun Makrina and sisters in Christ.

24. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Pyrgetos, Larissa — Nun Christonymfa and Sisters in Christ.

25. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Edessa — Nun Porfiria and Sisters in Christ.

26. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring (Klyvokas), Gortinia — Nun Seraphimia and Sisters in Christ.

27. Abbess of the Holy Trinity Monastery, Livadi, Elassona — Nun Theophano and Sisters in Christ.

28. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of Kernitsa, Vitina, Arcadia — Nun Synkletikia and Sisters in Christ.

29. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of St. Lawrence, Pelion — Nun Mariam and Sisters in Christ.

30. Abbess of the Holy Skete “Panagia Axion Estin”, Mesaios, Oreokastro — Nun Euthymia and Sisters in Christ.

31. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of St. George, Mandra, Attica — Nun Fevronia and Sisters in Christ.

32. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity — St. Nectarios, Aegina — Nun Timothy and Sisters in Christ.

33. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of the Prophet Elijah, Zaholis, Corinth — Nun Magdalene and Sisters in Christ.

34. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of St. Mina, Perihora, Drama — Nun Agathangela and Sisters in Christ.

35. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of Pantocrator the Savior of Christ, Kerkyra — Nun Euphemia and Sisters in Christ.

36. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of the Archangel Michael, Thassos — Nun Ephraim and Sisters in Christ.

37. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of St. Stephen, Meteora — Nun Christonymfa and Sisters in Christ.

38. Abbess of the Holy Skete of St. John the Baptist, Metamorphosis, Chalcedon — Nun Mariam and Sisters in Christ.

39. Abbess of the Holy Monastery of St. George, Anidros — Nun St. John and Sisters in Christ.