I. Recently, the news about religious unrest in Ukraine has increased significantly. The Government there is persecuting the so-called "Ukrainian Orthodox Church" under the Metropolitan of Kyiv Onuphry and has given an ultimatum to the Monks of the historic Lavra of Kyiv to leave their Monastery by March 29 (2023), in order for it to be handed over to another new Brotherhood, approved by the Government, under the alleged "Metropolitan of Kyiv" Epiphanius of the self-proclaimed "Orthodox Church of Ukraine", a new ecclesiastical formation, which was recognized by Constantinople as an autocephalous Church. Of course, the persecutions against the Clergy and the Laymen of the "Ukrainian Orthodox Church" had started earlier, but now they are peaking and deeply dividing the Ukrainian people, while the critical period of the country requires unity and solidarity more than ever, due to the state of war.
II. Persecutions against Christians, but also against people of any religious belief, wherever and however they occur, especially in our time, are unacceptable and are a disgrace to Civilization, Democracy, Humanity and Freedom. That is why we appeal to all people of goodwill who love and support the fight for Freedom of Religion and Conscience and have the ability to intervene immediately to stop the persecution in any form! Ukraine, if it wants to be considered a free and democratic country, must first of all respect the right to religious freedom and not imitate the well-known methods of godless Soviet authoritarianism, which it is supposed to oppose.
III. We pray fervently to our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Most Holy Mother of God, during this period of Repentance in Great Lent, simultaneously calling and exhorting our Flock, like every faithful Christian, to intercede for the persecuted believers in Ukraine, so that they may face the injustice against them with courage and Christian perseverance, and that the pernicious war will stop as soon as possible.
From the Holy Synod
of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece
Athens, 14/27-03-2023
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