Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: “The Ecumenical Patriarchate strongly condemns every form of violence, of whatever origin”

The heinous attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, was referred to by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, on the Sunday before Christmas, 22 December, in his homily, after the Divine Liturgy, which he officiated at the Church of Saint Nicholas, Neochorion, on the Bosphorus, reiterating that the Ecumenical Patriarchate strongly condemns all forms of violence, wherever it may come from.

His All-Holiness referred to the upcoming Feast Day of Christmas, emphasising that all Christians are called to live for Christ, with Christ and according to Christ, and recalled the words of the Apostle Paul: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). His All-Holiness added that the salvation of humankind is the first and last reason for which Christ came to earth, and pointed out that “we will celebrate a true Christmas and certainly a more Christ-like celebration if we remember this purpose of the divine Incarnation and direct our entire earthly life towards the purpose of our salvation and our eternal destiny.”

His All-Holiness then referred to the tragic event in Germany, expressing his sympathy for the families of the victims and those injured in the attack.

“Unfortunately, the heinous attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, which literally spread death, leaving behind dead and dozens of injured, is incompatible not only with the spirit of Christmas, but also with every sense of humanity. The Ecumenical Patriarchate strongly condemns all forms of violence, of whatever origin, and prays for the repose of the souls of the innocent victims and for the full restoration of the health of the injured, as well as for the consolation of their relatives, who were plunged into mourning, pain and sorrow during these festive days of joy and hope brought by the Nativity of the God-Man, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

The Patriarch did not fail to express his solidarity with our fellow people suffering from the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, and in particular with the Ancient Patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, as well as with their Primates.

“Our thoughts and prayers also turn to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and the Middle East affected by the devastation of war. We stand in solidarity with the ancient Patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem and with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and express our unconditional support to their Beatitudes, the brotherly Primates, Patriarch John X of Antioch, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and Metropolitan Epiphaniy of Kyiv. Despite the geographical and, unfortunately and impermissibly, Eucharistic distance of these three Churches, they are united, in addition to their common Orthodox faith, by the terrible ordeal of war, but also by the common expectation of achieving a just and stable peace in their regions. Let us, together with them, ask the Lord of peace to hear our prayer and that the cosmically joyful message of “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men” may acquire another dimension and another perspective for these troubled peoples during this year’s Christmas.”

The Ecumenical Patriarch congratulated His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonia, “the devoted Supervisor of the Bosphorus Region, who works tirelessly with zeal, energy, creativity and much love for all the Communities of the Region”, the Parish Priest, Protopresbyter Father Konstantinos Bartholomeo, and the Ecclesiastical Committee of the Community of Neochorion, as well as all those who assist in the work being carried out.

His All-Holiness then welcomed with cordiality and warm paternal words all the pilgrims from abroad, especially the teachers and students of the 5th and 6th grades of the 4th Primary School of Alexandroupolis “Chronis Aidonidis” and their accompanying parents, being led by their Principal, Ms. Antonia Petridou and under the auspices of the School’s Parents and Guardians Association. Addressing the young students, the Patriarch referred in particular to the importance of the feasts of the Holy Twelve Days of Christmas.

Earlier, His All-Holiness was welcomed to the Community by His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonia, and Mr. Nicholas Kalamaris, on behalf of the President of the Ecclesiastical Committee.

Immediately afterwards, in the Community Hall, the students of the 4th Primary School of Alexandroupolis sang traditional carols and other Christmas songs to His All-Holiness.

Photographs: Nikos Papachristou