Ecumenical Patriarch: Invasion and war in Ukraine must end immediately

With all the solemnity and according to the centuries-old tradition, today, in the Holy Cathedral of the First Throne Church of Constantinople, the Sunday of Orthodoxy was celebrated, in the presence of the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The Divine Operation Provided by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, co-existing by the Hierarchos of Princess Dimitrios, Anthocousios Nektarios, Commissioner of Panagio Tafou in the city, Sevastia Seraphim, Myrofhytos and Circle People, Myria Chrysostomi, Peaconipole, Italy Polykarpos, Adriananiple Gerasimos and Forty Churches of Andreas. During it, the monk Barnabas was ordained a deacon by the Fraternity of the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegian Monastery of the Holy Forerunner of Essex.

The solemnity of the feast was proclaimed by the Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain Nikitas. Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne, clergy, Mount Athos monks, Lords of the Holy Church of the Great Church, headed by Archon M. Logothetis Theodoros Angelopoulos, Christodoulos Lazaris, Ambassador of Greece to the Archbishop of Greece and government spokesman, members of the official delegation accompanying the Prime Minister, the Consuls General of Greece in the City Georgia Sultanopoulou, and of Ukraine, Roman Nedilskyi, Sakis Kechagioglou, lawyer, member of the Foundation “Patriarch” many believers from the city and abroad.

Prior to the ordination of the new deacon, the Ecumenical Patriarch, in his speech, referred to the tragic events unfolding in Ukraine and called for an immediate end to the invasion and war and for a new opportunity for dialogue.

“Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the ‘God of peace.’ 7), but also “for the peace of the universe”, which is the Siamese sister of justice.

In unison, we watch the drama of the Ukrainian people and at the same time admire their strong resistance to the orphan invader. We also note with satisfaction the brave reaction of Russian citizens to the bloodshed. We call for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts of the war. Violence and war not only do not resolve disputes, but cause pain and death and create more complex problems. The invasion and the war must be stopped immediately, now, and a new opportunity must be given to dialogue, the pre-eminent vehicle of reconciliation and peace. On the other hand, the Charter of the United Nations, this “Gospel of the Nations”, as it is called, explicitly prohibits the use of force in international relations and commits all members of the Organization to settle their disputes by peaceful means. “War is a violation of international law, which is now a” law of peace. ”

Previously, His Holiness, on the occasion of the origin of the candidate deacon from Cyprus, spoke warmly about the Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos, while addressing the new deacon paternal reasons for construction and instructions. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Ecumenical Patriarch, together with the collaborating Hierarchs, performed the established Trisagion for the rest of the souls of all “those who fought for and for the orthodox faith and ended in it”.

In a short greeting to the Prime Minister of Greece, His Holiness warmly welcomed him to the seat of the First Throne Church of Orthodoxy and in his person thanked the Greek State for its continued interest in the issues of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He wished every success in the forthcoming meeting of the Prime Minister with the President of the Republic of Turkey, and referring again to the dramatic situation in Ukraine, reiterated the support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the hard-pressed Ukrainian people. The procession of the Holy Icons followed, in the courtyard of the Patriarchate, during which the Ecumenical Patriarch blessed the faithful.

Source: AMPE