Cyprus bishop: "Peoples of the earth must unite and stop the war in Ukraine"

Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos. Photo: romfea.gr

Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kikkos of the Cyprus Orthodox Church believes that all nations should unite to stop the war in Ukraine.

In his sermon on the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (September 8 according to the new calendar), Metropolitan Nikiforos criticized the "great moral collapse brought about by modern scientific and technological civilization, which, in its madness, destroys all aspirations for spirituality and metaphysical concerns."

All of this, according to the hierarch of the Church of Cyprus, leads to people losing interest in eternity because they no longer believe in it.

"This is why we live in a society marked by vulnerability, distrust, insecurity, and ever-growing violence. In our time, war remains our sad fate, and the shadow of death weighs heavily on the souls of each one of us," the bishop said.

He emphasized that "today, not one nation trembles while shedding brotherly blood in oceans," but humanity on a global scale behaves like ostriches, "closing its eyes to danger and pretending that it doesn't exist."

"And yet, at this critical moment in history, when new geopolitical, geostrategic, and geoeconomic interests are reshaping the world and threatening with a global nuclear war, there is a need for a global mobilization of all the peoples of the Earth to stop the ongoing war in Ukraine," the Metropolitan declared.

He stressed that "now is not the time for illusions," and "all the peoples of the Earth must come together in a global pacifist movement, free from pursuing personal interests, and strive for the establishment of peace worldwide."

"For only peace in a consolidated and stable form will free today's person from the shuddering of death," he added, inviting all people to become peacemakers in practice, as the Lord desires, saying in His Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."

Previously, it was reported that according to Oleksiy Arestovich, the Pope justifies Russia's war against Ukraine.

Read also

Common Easter date with Orthodox still a long way off – Vatican rep

The Vatican’s ambassador to Ukraine said that dialogue on synchronizing the calendar is ongoing, but no tangible progress has been made.

Persecuted UOC сommunity сelebrates its patronal feast in Mali Dorohostai

In the Rivne Eparchy, the persecuted community of the Church of St. Spyridon of Trimythous marked its patronal feast.

Catholic monastery in Germany to open escape room for visitors

The Norbertines of Roggenburg have devised a way to attract visitors as the abbey prepares to celebrate its 900th anniversary.

Cherkasy court extends preventive measure against Metropolitan Theodosiy

The judge left unchanged the preventive measure imposed on the UOC hierarch in four criminal cases.

UOC parish in Lisbon celebrates 5th anniversary of its founding

The community of the Church of St. Spyridon of Trimythous in Lisbon marked its patronal feast and the fifth anniversary of its founding.

Pope says true Christians can have no enemies

Pope Leo XIV reflects on martyrdom as a “birth into heaven” and on Christmas joy a the choice of "justice even at great cost,” making celebration possible even amid suffering.