Greek Church abbot: Ukrainians and Russians must learn to love one another

Ukrainian with a flag. Photo: The Associated Press

April 7, 2025 – Abbot Dositheos, father supeior of the Agia Skepi Monastery under the Metropolis of Sidirokastro of the Church of Greece, shared his thoughts on the war in Ukraine in an interview with the UOJ.

He expressed hope that the conflict would end soon.

“We pray that the Lord will bring them to reason. They are brothers. They must stop and love one another. This will happen if they let the true Christ into their lives,” the abbot emphasized.

He said that in his monastery, they are praying “because of the horror happening there with our brothers, when they are killing each other.”

“Unfortunately, we too have had a hand in this. At its core, it is more of a religious war; everything else is secondary. This is a matter of faith,” he stated.

“The devil, with his hordes, has interfered and turned everything upside down. But now we must cast him out so that Christ may come there, that peace may enter people’s hearts, and that they may love one another,” Abbot Dositheos said.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the revered elder Abbot Dositheos gave an extensive interview to the publication.

Read also

German Cardinal Obliges Clergy to Conduct Blessings of LGBT Couples

Marx proposed making the blessing of same-sex couples and divorced individuals the norm in parish life.

Israel installs new cross in Lebanon after desecration of Christ statue

Israel has installed a new cross in the Christian village of Debel after an Israeli soldier desecrated a statue of Christ there.

Trump takes part in Bible-reading marathon

The U.S. president read an Old Testament passage in the Oval Office.

Authorities bar Armenian Church from prison ministry

The country’s penitentiary service has begun hiring individual clergy members while bypassing the Church hierarchy.

Man dies shielding child from terrorist’s bullet in Kyiv

A Kyiv janitor gave his life to save a child during an attack in a residential neighborhood.

UOC-KP calls OCU “a structure without canonical succession”

The UOC-KP has accused Epifaniy Dumenko’s structure of raiding and of isolating Filaret Denysenko before his death.