Greek theologian appeals to Church Primates over blasphemy at the Lavra

Police and Reserve officials take control of the Near and Far Caves of the Lavra. Photo: UOJ

Renowned Greek theologian, canonist, and presbyter Anastasios Gotsopoulos has issued a public appeal to the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches concerning the situation at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, where Ukrainian authorities have initiated the examination of holy relics. The priest's message was published by UOJ in Greece.

In his emotional appeal, Fr. Anastasios – rector of the Church of St. Nicholas in Patras – urged hierarchs to “raise a voice of denunciation and protest to stop the desecration of the holy sites of the Orthodox Church.”

He noted that on March 28, a commission appointed by Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture, accompanied by law enforcement, broke the locks of the Near and Far Caves of the Lavra to conduct "research" on the relics of the Pechersk saints.

“The composition of the commission clearly shows the regime’s disregard for the sanctity,” Gotsopoulos stated, pointing out that the commission includes anatomists, biologists, and even a veterinarian – but not a single representative of the Church.

The Greek priest issued a special appeal to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who, he noted, “maintains a good personal relationship with [Ukrainian President] Zelensky,” as well as to the Primates of those Churches that have recognized the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

“Your Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch, Your Beatitudes, Primates of the Local Orthodox Patriarchates and Autocephalous Churches – and especially you, Your Holiness, who enjoys good personal relations with President Zelensky – convey to him that the warning of Scripture applies to his nation as well: ‘It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God’ (Hebrews 10:31). And to the other Beatitudes – Patriarch of Alexandria, Archbishop of Cyprus, and Archbishop of Athens – who have recognized the ‘Autocephalous Church of Ukraine’ led by Epifaniy.

We appeal to your episcopal conscience with an urgent plea: Raise your voice in denunciation and protest, so that the desecration of the saints of our Orthodox Church may cease. The saints of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra are also our saints – they belong to the entire Orthodox Church. Let us not forget that the founder of the Lavra was St. Anthony of the Holy Mountain!”

He reminded the primates that “to our great sorrow, some of you remained silent about the persecution and oppression of the struggling Orthodox Church in Ukraine under the omophorion of His Beatitude Onuphry.”

“This silence from the Orthodox world only emboldened the Kyiv barbarians, who are now proceeding to defile even the triumphant ‘Church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven’ (Hebrews 12:23). Do not allow this. Do not permit it. Do not remain silent – for in this case, the Roman principle ‘qui tacet consentire videtur’ applies (‘silence implies consent’). If you remain silent, then ‘the stones will cry out,’ and there is the danger they will fall on all our heads...”

Earlier, UOJ reported that the Ministry of Culture’s commission, accompanied by police, broke into the Near and Far Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to “inventory” the relics.

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