Speech of the Archbishop of Seville Theodosius (Attalah Hannah) of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church at the International Conference:
Dear brothers and sisters, dear friends, members of the Center for geostrategic studies in the Serbian capital Belgrade, as well as the International Forum of Orthodox women.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you!
It is my pleasure to welcome your conference being held in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, and send you a message of love, brotherhood and fidelity from the holy city (Jerusalem), the city of the resurrection, light and victory over death.
I welcome your efforts and your loud voice to end the persecution facing our sister Orthodox Church in Ukraine. This is the correct Orthodox Christian position and we cannot remain silent in the face of such grave violations and unprecedented abuses committed against the only legitimate Orthodox Church in Ukraine, led by His Eminence Metropolitan onufri.
We do not recognize any other church institution in Ukraine. The only official and legal Orthodox Church in Ukraine is the church led by His Eminence Metropolitan Onufry. This church has been subjected to unprecedented persecution, and the purpose of all these persecutions seems to be to abolish the existence of this historic and ancient church and to appoint an illegal and illegitimate replacement for it.
I would like to take the opportunity of your conference in the Bulgarian capital Sofia to send a message of congratulations, love and respect to His Holiness Patriarch Danilo, patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, who was recently elected and appointed head of the sister Orthodox Church in Bulgaria.
We wish him success and happiness in his ministry and service to his church, and we thank him for his principled views that reject illegal and illegal actions in Ukraine, as well as for his constant and unwavering affirmation that the only legal and legitimate Orthodox Church is the church headed by Metropolitan Onufry. We also wish to express our greetings to His Beatitude Patriarch Porfirio of Serbia on his noble spiritual and ecclesiastical positions, which we greatly appreciate and respect.
At your conference, I would like to make some suggestions.:
First, appeal to all the Orthodox Churches of the world (without excluding any Orthodox Church) with an urgent request for prompt action to stop the persecution to which the Church in Ukraine is subjected, on the principle that if one of the members of the church is subjected to persecution, all must side with the oppressed and persecuted.
Christian values also encourage us to live joyfully with those who rejoice and experience pain with those who suffer. Therefore, on the basis of our Orthodox Christian values, we must share the pain and suffering with our persecuted brothers in Ukraine and demand that these injustices and persecutions be stopped.
Secondly, it is necessary to call on all Christian authorities and leadership (including non-Orthodox ones) to take a clear position on this issue. I believe that we must turn to Catholic and evangelical Christian authorities regarding these violations in order for our voice to reach them and to fulfill their expected duty by demanding an end to these attacks, practices, persecutions and injustices.
Thirdly, it is necessary to quickly address international institutions and explain what the church in Ukraine perceives as a result of persecution, which can be considered grave abuses and violations of the principles of human rights.
It is necessary to contact the United Nations and all human rights bodies associated with it, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights located in Geneva.
Fourth-it is necessary to work on expanding the scope of publication in various media and explaining the seriousness of human rights violations occurring in Ukraine, where there is a targeted attack on the ancient Orthodox Church, as well as the persecution by which metropolitans and all clergy are subjected, the seizure of churches and real estate. We believe that the procedure regarding the Prohibition of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine by the Ukrainian parliament is illegal and inappropriate, as well as a serious violation of human rights and freedom of religion. We demand the repeal of this measure and its harsh condemnation.
Fifth-there is a need to increase the number of conferences and meetings around the world in order to highlight this serious problem and put pressure on the political leadership in Kiev to stop the attacks and persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
In conclusion, at the time of the fast of the Most Holy Theotokos, we pray for her prayers and intercession for His Eminence Metropolitan Onufry, who celebrated ten years since his election as Metropolitan of Ukraine, as well as for all bishops, clergy and people in the Fraternal Church of Ukraine.
Let us pray fervently for this church crucified and suffering, convinced that the forces of evil in this world will not be able to destroy the existence of this church, because the church always triumphs, and its defender is the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we all believe. We recently celebrated the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tavor, and in a few days we will celebrate the Feast of the Dormition and repose of our mother, The Most Holy Theotokos Mary.
We also pray that the war in Gaza will end and that the language of peace and dialogue will take hold in the Holy Land of Palestine. I call on you all to pray fervently for the victims of war and that this bloodshed in Gaza should end, so that the people of this country can enjoy peace and a dignified life.
Thank you for your invitation to participate in this conference and I wish you success in conveying the voice of the Martyr Church in Ukraine, the suffering and crucified, with the hope of resurrection and victory over injustice, oppression and death.
Source: Center for Geostrategic Studies
13. September 2024.
