Patriarch Bartholomew's “Glory to Ukraine” greeting stirs Greek backlash

Patriarch Bartholomew says “Glory to Ukraine!” to Zelensky. Photo: Office of the President website

Patriarch Bartholomew’s public greeting during his meeting with Zelensky in the U.S. has caused wide resonance in Greece, Greek media report.

According to the publications, many Greeks reacted extremely negatively to the Ecumenical Patriarch raising his pastoral staff and declaring “Glory to Ukraine!”, since the phrase is associated with the Nazi past and the crimes of German collaborators during World War II.

As Romfea writes, the incident “shocked Greek society: instead of supporting Orthodox Christians who are persecuted and killed in the Middle East, or condemning the oppression of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its clergy, the Patriarch preferred to highlight the Crimean Tatars–Muslims, historic enemies of Hellenism and allies of Zelensky’s regime.”

It is not specified in the publication whom exactly was meant under “Crimean Tatars–Muslims.”

The scene reportedly sparked a wave of outrage.

“Greek commentators emphasized that the Patriarch’s role is not to act as a ‘propagandist’ or reproduce divisive slogans, but to provide spiritual leadership for the Orthodox world,” the article noted.

“The Phanar’s turn in favor of Zelensky’s regime, its silence in the face of persecution of canonical Orthodox in Ukraine, and rapprochement with groups hostile to Hellenism are creating an ever-wider gulf between the Patriarchate and its own flock,” Romfea wrote.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in the U.S. Zelensky and Patriarch Bartholomew discussed the “development of the Church in Ukraine.”

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