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This piece was originally published in Greek by ΤΑ ΝΕΑ Weekend and has been republished by the Orthodox Observer in English with permission.
What are your thoughts on the course of the peace negotiations regarding Ukraine, given the efforts you yourself have made toward the achievement of peace, which you also mentioned during your recent concelebration with the Primate of the Church of Ukraine?
The Ecumenical Patriarchate prays unceasingly for the cessation of wars and conflicts, and for the triumph of peace and justice in every corner of the world. As you know, Ms. Mourelatou, from the very first moment we stood by the Ukrainian people, who have been grievously tested by the Russian invasion. We have shown our solidarity not only with our Orthodox brethren, but with all Ukrainians, who with courage and valor, like another David facing Goliath, are defending the sacred values of their homeland and resisting the forces that seek to lead Ukraine into the darkness of humiliation, exploitation, subjugation, and enslavement.
It is deeply distressing that the architects and supporters of the so-called “Russian world” do not hesitate to instrumentalize religious sentiment and to distort Orthodox theology and tradition by labeling this war as “holy.” Yet the victims of this war, to this day, number in the tens of thousands of lives, including young soldiers on both sides, civilian populations, and, tragically, many small children.
And, as I have stated on other occasions, I am grieved that even ecclesiastical figures have adopted and echoed this unholy and heretical narrative, evidently submitting to the dictates of political authorities, perhaps in exchange for the multifaceted support provided to them by various propaganda mechanisms and services.
No, therefore, their war is not holy; it is expansionist. It is utterly satanic—the product of vain individuals addicted to the opium of power.
We pray and hope that all the peace efforts currently underway will bear fruit. Peace must —and can— return to Ukraine, with full respect for its national independence and through a comprehensive plan for its reconstruction. Only in this way can there be a hopeful future for all Ukrainians, and certainly for our Orthodox brethren, who, united, must work toward this goal.
The First-Throned Church of Constantinople, from which many peoples received Holy Baptism, among them today’s Ukrainians and Russians, fervently implores Christ, the Prince of Peace, with all its strength, to bring this bloodshed to an end and to restore peace once again.
Your All-Holiness, are you concerned about the Russian attacks directed at your person? Do all these things being said about you cause you fear?
Fear? No, no! Why should I fear Russian propaganda? I fear neither the false and fabricated information they disseminate, nor their orchestrated dirty attacks planned by various services, nor the slanders they hurl against our Patriarchate and against my person, nor the Russian internet trolls, nor their websites that function as mouthpieces.
Whatever they do to obscure the truth, they cannot hide it; they cannot deceive everyone forever. I do not fear them. On the contrary, it is they who should fear the Day of Judgment —if, of course, they believe. And among many other things, they will be judged for the war in Ukraine, for having characterized it as “holy,” and for their efforts to dismantle the unity of Orthodoxy by employing Stalinist propaganda tactics, aiming to control it, subjugate it, and manipulate Orthodox peoples.
Evidently, they seek to create a Russian-driven hybrid, a construct that bears no relation to Orthodoxy. Thus, they accuse Constantinople of precisely what they themselves are doing—judging others by their own standards. They attempt to shift their grave responsibilities and place them elsewhere. For them, it is always someone else who is at fault. A mirroring, a projection onto others of their own subversive actions.
I therefore repeat, once again: I do not fear them. I do not fear their insults, their slanders, their indecencies, nor anything else they may be planning. The recent announcement by the Russian secret services revealed not only how far the propagandists are willing to go, but also disclosed urbi et orbi who truly holds the upper hand —even in ecclesiastical affairs— in Russia.
Are you concerned about the protection of Christian populations who are suffering in the Middle East, and especially in Syria?
Of course I am deeply concerned about the situation of our brethren throughout the Middle East. In recent years, we have been witnessing with pain all that has been unfolding across the wider region. Thousands of our fellow human beings —very many of them Christians— have been forced to abandon their homes, to be uprooted from the land of their ancestors, and to set out on the road of exile.
We are troubled by the shrinking of the Christian presence in the very places where our Lord Jesus Christ was born, taught, was crucified, and rose again. It wounds us to see our sisters and brothers suffering and living in danger amid environments of insecurity and conflict.
As always, we stand in solidarity with the ancient Patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem, and we join our prayers with those of their Primates, His Beatitude John, Patriarch of Antioch, and His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, as well as with their clergy and faithful.
We hope that local governments, as well as all those who labor for a peaceful Middle East, will contribute with all their strength to the protection of Christian populations —and of all inhabitants— by creating conditions of security and economic development. It is the right of our Christian brethren to remain in the land where they were born. And those who have been uprooted must be enabled to return as soon as possible to their ancestral homes.
Given the volatile situation prevailing internationally, do you fear that we may be led into a more serious global confrontation?
I pray that Christ the Savior may intervene and enlighten the leaders of the world, so that they may address whatever issues arise with composure, without egoism and absolutism, with respect for international law and international treaties, and above all with the citizens of their countries in mind. As we have stated in the past, war —the killing of one human being by another, of brother by brother— is the most abhorrent and unacceptable manifestation of the corrosive and decadent condition of which humanity, sadly, continues to remain hostage. It is a reality that stands in complete opposition to the teaching of our Lord. We are obliged to set as our priorities peace, dialogue and mutual understanding, and the future of our children.
Every war, every act of confrontation that undermines peace and violates respect for the human person —who is the image of God Himself— is a defeat for humanity. I repeat: war is a defeat for humanity. This is what is happening today in Ukraine, but also in other regions of our planet that are experiencing the consequences of human egoism and the bellicose ambitions of certain leaders.
War is not a solution. It cannot be a solution. It must not even be considered our last resort. The two World Wars taught us this, along with their millions of victims. And not only those wars, but also the smaller ones that have occurred in recent decades, including the ongoing war in Ukraine. The only safe path for overcoming any differences is dialogue. It is the only choice if humanity is to live in peace, free from war, violence, and conflict.
How do you assess your recent visit to the White House, in light of what you discussed with President Trump, and is there something in particular that you took away from what he told you?
It was our first meeting, and within a warm and cordial atmosphere we had the opportunity to discuss with His Excellency the President the initiatives, the ministry, and the ecumenical mission of the First-Throned Church of Orthodoxy. He received us with warmth and showed great interest in the matters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as did the Honorable Vice President of the United States and the other close associates of the President who were present at the meeting in the Oval Office. We retain the very best impressions and hope that we will have the opportunity to reciprocate this hospitality at our See, at the Phanar, as has occurred with other predecessors among the Presidents of the United States.
Do you believe there are well-founded indications that the Theological School of Halki may reopen in the near future, and how do you assess your cooperation with the Turkish authorities?
Ms. Mourelatou, I could not but express my optimism. The issue of the reopening of our School has returned to the forefront at the initiative of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Erdoğan, who gave the relevant instruction to His Excellency the Minister of National Education, Mr. Yusuf Tekin, to initiate dialogue to this end between the Ministry and the Patriarchate.
The first step was taken in May 2024, when the Minister visited our Theological School, and since then a number of meetings have taken place between the two sides. I believe that significant progress has been made, although there are still certain issues that need to be settled. It appears, however, that the necessary political will exists, a fact that allows us to hope that the good news from the State authorities will come soon.
At present, extensive renovation works are being carried out in the historic building of the School and its surrounding area, with the financial contribution and overall support of the Most Honorable Archon Exarch of the Mother Church, Mr. Athanasios Martinos, Ecumenical Grand Benefactor, and his gracious spouse, Mrs. Marina. These works are expected to be completed by the summer, and we hope that by then the final operational framework of the School will have been determined and the relevant permission granted, so that, after 55 years, it may once again welcome new students. And we shall invite His Excellency the President to inaugurate together with us the reopening of this historic educational institution of our Patriarchate.
What messages would you like to convey from Thessaloniki, which you are scheduled to visit in the coming days?
Each visit we make to Greece affords us the opportunity to communicate face to face with the pious Greek people, who have always honored and respected the venerable Center of Orthodoxy and of the Nation. This time, we shall be visiting the city of Thessaloniki, the city of Saints Demetrios and Gregory Palamas, in response to the invitation of its Shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki, and the Board of Directors of the Philanthropic Brotherhood of Men of Thessaloniki, in order to preside over the anniversary events marking 155 years since the founding of this important charitable association, distinguished by its multifaceted social activity and service.
As our presence in Thessaloniki coincides with the Feast of the Three Hierarchs, the Protectors of Letters, we shall preside, on the feast day itself in the morning, at the Divine Liturgy in the festal homonymous Holy Church of the Metropolis of Thessaloniki. On the eve of the feast, we shall deliver the principal address at the celebratory event of the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Furthermore, during our stay, we shall also visit the neighboring Holy Metropolises of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, as well as of Nea Krini and Kalamaria.
It is an opportunity, within the context of all that we have said previously, during our visit to pray together for the end of wars and for the prevalence of peace in our world. Prayer, after all, is the shield of the people of God, and I believe that today we need it more than ever —especially our brethren who are being tried by illness, by poverty, as well as by wars and their consequences.
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