The Greek priest stressed that the silence of the entire Orthodox world about the persecution of the UOC only emboldened the Ukrainian authorities.
The famous Greek theologian, canonist and presbyter Anastasios Gotsopoulos made an open appeal to the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches in connection with the situation in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, where the Ukrainian authorities began investigating the holy relics. The priest's appeal was published by the Union of Orthodox Journalists in Greece.
In his emotional message fr. Anastasius, rector of St. Nicholas Church in Patras, called on the hierarchs to "raise their voice of chastisement and protest in order to stop the desecration of the saints of the Orthodox Church."
He mentioned that on March 28, a commission appointed by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, accompanied by law enforcement agencies, opened locks in the Near and Far caves of the Lavra to conduct "research" of the relics of the Kiev Caves saints.
"The composition of the commission's members clearly demonstrates the regime's disrespect for holy sites," notes Gotsopoulos, pointing out that the commission includes anatomists, biologists, and even a veterinarian, but there is not a single representative of the Church.
The Greek priest addressed a special appeal to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who, according to him, "maintains good personal relations with Zelensky," as well as to the Primates of those Churches that have recognized the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).
"Your Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch, Your Beatitudes, the Primates of the Local Orthodox Patriarchates and Autocephalous Churches, and especially you, Your Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch, who maintains good personal relations with Zelensky, inform him that the principle of 'it is terrible to fall into the hands of the living God' also applies to his country (Heb. 10:31). As well as other Beatitudes – the Patriarch of Alexandria, the Archbishop of Cyprus and the Archbishop of Athens – who recognized the "Autocephalous Church of Ukraine" under the leadership of Epiphanius.
We appeal to your Eminence with a fervent appeal, we ask and implore: Raise your voice of chastisement and protest to stop the desecration of the saints of our Orthodox Church. The saints of the Kiev Caves Lavra are also our saints, they are the saints of the Universal Orthodox Church. Let's not forget that the founder of the Lavra is St. Anthony of Mount Athos!", Fr. Anastasia.
He recalled that "unfortunately, some of you have remained silent about the persecution and oppression of the militant Orthodox Church in Ukraine under the omophorion of His Beatitude Onufriy."
"This silence of the entire Orthodox world has only emboldened the Kiev barbarians, and now they are moving to desecrate and desecrate even the triumphant "Church of the Firstborn, written in heaven" saints (Hebrews 13:23).
Do not allow this. Don't let that happen. Do not be silent any longer, because in this case the Roman principle "qui tacet consentire videtur" (silence is recognized as consent) applies. If you remain silent, then "the stones will cry out," and there is a danger that they will fall on the heads of all of us...", the theologian said.
Earlier it was reported that the commission of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the police broke down the doors to the Near and Far caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra in order to "inventory" the relics.