Statement
of the Orthodox Bishops of Spain and Portugal
In view of
the recent events in Ukraine which have shocked the entire world, we express
our dismay and unconditional support for the victims of the acts of war.
We call for
solidarity to alleviate the grave situation of those affected by the war and
ask for God's blessing on everyone who welcomes refugees.
The Church
of Christ has been and will be on the side of those who suffer. We appeal to
those in authority to stop the bloodshed immediately.
We pray to
the God of peace to grant peace to the Ukrainian land.
On the day
of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, we remind you that there is only one victory that
has conquered the world: the sacrificial love of Christ. We must not allow the
hatred which is caused by propaganda to take hold of the hearts of our
Christian peoples. We make a special appeal to our flock, which represents
several people, not to succumb to the temptation of mutual enmity and preserve
the love that "never fails" (1 Cor 13.8).
+
Metropolitan Archbishop Bessarion of Spain and Portugal (Ecumenical
Patriarchate of Constantinople)
+ Αrchbishop Nestor in Spain and Portugal (Patriarchate of Moscow)
+ Bishop Timothy
in Spain and Portugal (Patriarchate of Romania)
+ auxiliary Bishop Theofil of the Orthodox Rumanian diocese in Spain and Portugal