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Bartholomew: Weapons scatter death and, of course, do not discriminate

Bartholomew: Weapons scatter death and, of course, do not discriminate

New appeal to stop o war in Ukrainewhich has already led to the death of thousands of our fellow human beings and the exile of hundreds of thousands of others, addressed the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in his speech on the 2nd Sunday of Lent, at I.N. Agioi Theodoroi of the Community of Vlaga.

“Dear Christians, war can and should never be an option for resolving any disputes. Weapons scatter death and, of course, do not discriminate. They kill everyone. This is evidenced by the tragic images that have been going around the world for the last twenty-five days.

Unfortunately, the homosexual invaders of Ukraine, a sovereign and independent state, seem to seek the utter humiliation of their proud, loyal and brotherly Ukrainian people, who are fighting heroically and sacrificially for their freedom. At the same time, however, those who chose the path of war are leading their own youth to doom. Several thousand Russian soldiers have lost their lives. Because its effects are already being experienced by ordinary people on both sides. Ukrainian and Russian mothers have separated their children who went to war, and many of them are already, unfortunately, mourning their loss.

We seize the opportunity of our presence here to fight once again with all our might: stop this horror! Stop the war now! Madness is enough! How much more blood will our earth withstand? How many more dead will she fit in her womb? How many more tears will water her soil? “

His Holiness noted that in the face of this unprecedented humanitarian crisis, the Mother Church could not remain inactive and indifferent. He recalled that from the very beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, he personally and the Ecumenical Patriarchate unequivocally condemned it and called for an immediate end to the war, calling for uninterrupted prayer “for the peace of the universe only”, to which only the universe honest dialogue.

“We mobilized all our communities here to gather food and basic necessities for our tested brothers in Ukraine, but also to host, to the best of their ability, families who have found refuge in our city.

The response was really moving and we are very proud of our Greek community here, which proved once again that the heart of the Orthodox Roman of the City beats loudly and pulsates with the strong desire of the help of those in need nearby. We wish, from this position as well, to express our Patriarchal satisfaction to the ruthless and active president of SYRKI (Association for the Support of Roman Community Institutions), His Excellency Mr. George Papaliaris, as well as to his worthy collaborators, for their support. the collection and, subsequently, the promotion of the aforementioned assistance. The recognition, the appreciation and the blessing of the Mother Church accompany them in their efforts “.

Earlier, the Patriarch referred to the honored, today, by our Church, great Hierarch and Theologian, ‘Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, originally from Constantinople.

“A prominent monk of Mount Athos, Palamas is a shining star in the imaginary firmament of the Church, whose wisdom and holiness are recognized today by his former opponents in the West.

This great offspring of our city was also a very productive writer, and apart from his dogmatic, ascetic and moral works, he also left didactic and constructive reasons. In one of them he typically says that when love is lacking somewhere, it is impossible for God’s grace and protection to remain there. Elsewhere, which is thought to have been written about the current tragic situation of our brothers in Ukraine, St. Gregory says that we must seek peace, not only because we are all brothers as children of the same God the Father, but also for we have the same mother, the Church, and the same piety, whose leader and finisher is Christ, the Son of God, who is not only our God, but has prospered and accepted to be our brother. And he asks: if without peace with all men it is impossible to declare God, how can one hope that he who has no peace, even with those whom he considers his brothers, will see in the next life?

His Holiness congratulated the Metropolitan of Silivria Maximos, Supervisor of the Region of Hills, the hierarchical heads of the other Regions of the Archdiocese of Constantinople, but also the Pastors of the neighboring Dioceses, as well as Mr. Chondropoulos, Vice President Committees of all Communities, which responded to the call for the collection of humanitarian material for Ukraine.

Earlier, His Holiness was welcomed by the Metropolitan of Silivria Maximos, who, referring to the dramatic developments in Ukraine, stressed:

“The Church participates in the Triune Heavenly Kingdom of love and peace and therefore must in a prophetic way condemn the diabolical actions that catalyze and destroy peace and unity among people and even between homosexual brotherly peoples. “How sad and hypocritical it is that the ecclesiastical authorities do not specifically and unequivocally condemn the ongoing fratricidal war in Ukraine, which does not distinguish between Ukrainian and Russian-speaking Orthodox, catalyzes the dignity and independence of a people and incites more and more hatred.”

Also, the President of the Philoptochos Brotherhood, Eva Theodoridou, welcomed His Holiness with warm words.

During the Divine Liturgy the divine word was preached by the deacon of the Barnabas Series.

The Bishop Apostolos of Medea, who serves in the Archdiocese of America, the Archbishop Athanasios Martinos, political commander of Mount Athos, with his wife Marina and his close associate Dr. Grigorios Penelis, a group of teachers, students and pupils Arta and faithful from the city.

Afterwards, a treat was offered in the Community Hall, where the young students of the Community recited poems.

Source: News Beast