Ecumenical Patriarchate
MESSAGE by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the 84th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Holodomor (Phanar, November 25, 2017)
It is with a heavy heart that we
call to recollection one of the greatest atrocities of the 20th century,
namely, the tragic events in Ukraine during the years 1932-1933. Today,
our Ecumenical Patriarchate joins Ukrainians across the globe in
prayerful commemoration on the 84th anniversary of the Holodomor.
Surrounded by the members of our local Ukrainian Orthodox Community and
representatives of various nations serving in our City, we will preside
over the celebration of the Divine Liturgy as well as personally offer a
memorial service for the millions of people who inhumanely lost their
lives during the orchestrated man-imposed famine.
Our Mother Church of
Constantinople—which transformed centuries ago the river waters of the
Dnieper into the sanctified living waters of rejuvenation and life
eternal—was forever bonded spiritually to the Christ-loving nation of
Ukraine, continuing to actively share in its pride and its joys, but
also in its sorrows, always demonstrating Pauline ecclesiology: “If one
member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all
rejoice together.”
In the spirit of sharing intimately in
the life of Ukraine, the Holy and Great Church of Christ stands in
prayerful silence and solidarity with the victims of the Holodomor,
contemplating the magnitude of death and destruction carried out by the
oppressor.
“You will know the truth, and the truth
shall set you free.” And it is the truth of the Lord that liberates.
For, the world witnessed in Ukraine the destruction and death of
millions of people due to falsehood and a godless ideology, but it
continues to recognize the rejuvenation, baptism, and eternal life
offered centuries ago by our holy predecessors, the saintly and wise
Patriarchs of Constantinople. The “water road” of the Dnieper River
system was transformed into a bridge leading to heaven.
While prayerfully commemorating the
atrocity of famine, we would also like to make a prayerful appeal to all
people of goodwill for the cessation of the war, aggression and ongoing
violence in Ukraine, as well as to underscore the importance of
respecting human rights and dignity, most especially of the prisoners of
war, for whose safety and release we Orthodox pray for at every divine
service. The aggressions and crimes witnessed in the early 20th century
should not be repeated once again; rather, we should strive to be
mechanisms of reconciliation and rapprochement, especially having fresh
in our minds the disastrous results of the conflict and hostility 84
years ago. Let us all, each from our own standpoint, personally and
collectively, work to de-escalate tension and cultivate dialogue and
mutual understanding, so that the dark chapters of the early 20th
century will never reappear before us.
Eternal be the memories of the victims of this travesty. And may peace and prosperity be granted unto Ukraine.