In November of 2019, I wrote an article entitled The Narrow Blindness of False Unity, an Appeal to Orthodox Greeks. Almost seven years later, I am republishing the appeal. Since 2019, the situation surrounding the “recognition” of the structure called the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” (OCU) has only become more disastrous.

The violent persecution of the authentic Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, has only increased. Lamentably, the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s “recognition” of the OCU has only acted to increase and encourage the persecution of the UOC.

The republishing of my original appeal to Orthodox Greeks is very pertinent for a number of reasons. First, this Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, certain leadership and groups within the Greek Archdiocese of America (GOARCH) are set to give an award to Zelensky, president of Ukraine. Zelensky’s government is directly involved in the active persecution of the UOC. Ironically enough, the award is called the “beacon of hope.” Obviously, GOARCH must have a very different definition of hope than that of the persecuted Orthodox in Ukraine.

This past Sunday, Aug. 23^rd, three monks were ruthlessly attacked at Sviatohirsk Monastery in Ukraine. One of these monks was brutally murdered. The other two are in critical condition at a hospital. The Abbot of this monastery, Met. Arseny, has been under unlawful arrest by the Ukrainian government for some time now. Although I have no direct evidence of government links or OCU links to the attacks, nonetheless, they certainly are the fruit of the continued encouragement of persecution against the UOC.

Ukrainian Orthodox clergy are being abducted and sent to the front lines of the war. In this article, I am providing two recent instances. They are just the tip of the persecution iceberg. Here is a link to a video of the ruthless Ukrainian government abduction of the Priest Ioann from his home. It is heart-wrenching to watch. Here is an article about the abduction of the Priest Anatoliy as he was on a walk. These two represent a multitude of abducted clergy. Here is another link to a video about the abduction of priests. I would ask a question of my GOARCH brethren: what if these were your priests? What would you do? I would ask the organizers of the Zelensky award: do these actions exemplify Christian hope? If they do not, then why is Zelensky being given an award under that name?

I have been covering the events surrounding the establishment of the OCU and the persecution of the UOC since 2018 on my blog. For those who may not be that informed, here is a well-done thirty-minute video summary that is worth watching.

I do not think that GOARCH leadership will listen or change its course. But it is, in my opinion, worth raising our voices. Here is a petition requesting that GOARCH not give the “beacon of hope” award to Zelensky. I’d encourage anyone to sign it.

During the seven years that have transpired since I originally published my appeal to Orthodox Greeks, the leadership in the EP and GOARCH has only intensified its stance and support of the false OCU.

In America, it would be a blessing to see the Assembly of Bishops raise its voice and condemn the persecution of the UOC. Will that happen? Or will politics prevent us from speaking on behalf of suffering Christians?

Regardless of political leanings, the persecution of fellow Christians should be important to all warm-hearted Christians. In that sense, this transcends politics. What does it say of those who, in a desire to support a certain political interest, actively support the violent persecution of fellow Orthodox? Can evil be used as a means to attain a purported “good”?

I am thankfully not in GOARCH. But to those, especially the faithful, the laity, I would say, please raise your voice loudly on behalf of your suffering Orthodox brethren in Ukraine. Watch the above video of the abduction of Fr. Ioann, hear his screams as he is dragged away. Now ask yourself, what if that were your priest? What would you do? Would you remain silent? GOARCH faithful, please raise your voices, write letters to your hierarchs, call them, talk to your priests. Tell them that you do not support the persecution of the UOC. Will you raise your voice on behalf of the persecuted?

Once again I’m publishing my appeal to Orthodox Greeks (ethnic or simply part of GOARCH). What follows is my original appeal from 2019. May the Lord have mercy on us.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem …” or we may now lament, “O Constantinople, Constantinople!”

Once you were a defender of true Orthodoxy, and now you have begun to promote worldly political agendas. Once you preached the heavenly homeland, and now you are grasping at earthly power!

Rise up! Not in defense of your own rights and powers but rather in the humble defense of Truth and Orthodoxy, then we will gladly follow you!

My Grandmother is a full-blooded Greek; my lineage on that side goes back to Cappadocia, where my ancestors lived for ages (they left at the time of the exchange of populace). It is a great encouragement to know that many Greeks (including my ancestors) stood like an anvil in Holy Orthodoxy under the relentless hammer of Turkish Muslim rule.

Did they endure persecution, the seizure of property, and even death for the Ecumenical Throne of Constantinople? Or was it rather for the Truth of Holy Orthodoxy? Yes, ultimately, they endured for the love of Christ Jesus and His Church, Orthodoxy.

Orthodox Greeks, do you not see your fellow Orthodox brothers and sisters in Ukraine suffering valiantly, as once your ancestors did? They have been persecuted by Government forces, heretics, and radical nationalists. They have lost church buildings, they have been forced out of homes, they have been beaten – all for the same Holy Truth for which your ancestors stood. Now, will you not stand with your Orthodox brethren? Or will your own ancestors condemn you, your silence, and for some, the active support of falsehood? Rise up! Stand in your laudable heritage as defenders of Orthodoxy!

Does not the blood of Christ Jesus in Holy Communion bind all Orthodox together in a manner greater than ethnic bloodlines (as great as they may be)? Are we not all of the “Orthodox Christian race” through holy baptism?

In the Ecclesiastical History by Eusebius, it is noted that Christians had this mindset: “Those who have manfully contended for the truth rather than for their country and who have struggled for piety rather than their dearest friends.” Would that we would again be such as these!

Yet, at present we hear from certain sectors only about “ours,” “our nation,” and “our patriarch,” “our prestige.” We would be wise to remember that in Christ the Lord “there is neither Jew nor Greek … all are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). This is not an obliteration of nationality but a confession that a person transcends nationalism through living in Christ. The only thing that will save a person is being in Christ the Lord. No national pedigree will save a man, as grand as it may be. Indeed, only in Christ Jesus can each nation be truly perfected. We see the beauty of this national striving reflected in ideals such as Byzantium and Holy Rus’.

Orthodox faithful, we are called to contend for Truth! Nowhere are we commanded to place “ethnos,” nor one hierarchical throne, above Truth. If we do, this reveals a loss of Gospel vision. This betrays a darkening of the spiritual nous. 

I have no ill will towards the Ecumenical Patriarchate (EP), but the EP is neither the totality, nor the fullness of Orthodoxy, nor is it the sole standard thereof, nor a “first without equals,” nor the “mother church” of all. The EP is called, as every Patriarchate and every Bishopric, to uphold the standard of Orthodoxy, the Truth of the Faith. This standard is not directly equated with or contained in any one Patriarch or Bishop. Rather, every Patriarch, Bishop, Priest, Monk, and Layman is subject to the Gospel and Holy Orthodoxy – to rightly divide the Word of Truth. We may simply recall the numerous times that the EP and other Patriarchates have espoused heretical teaching throughout history. Let us also not forget the many wonderful things the Lord has worked through it.

I have outlined in a number of other articles how nefarious is the false church in Ukraine, called the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” (OCU), which is under the EP.

“You shall know them by their fruits,” says our Lord (Matt. 7:16). The testimony of the fruit of the false church in Ukraine (OCU), which is supported by the EP, is not Christian. Its “hierarchs” are indeed wolves in sheep’s clothing, mercenaries in pastoral garb.

Does the EP have the authority to override the Gospel? Does it have the power to turn stones into children of Israel? It does not. Only true repentance can truly change a man by grace.

Why are lies being promoted as truth? The claim put forth by the Greek Archdiocese of America is that “In Ukraine he (Mr. Epiphany, leader of the schismatic OCU in Ukraine under the EP) has already provided the Solomon-like wisdom that was needed to reunify the Church, return to Eucharistic unity, and establish it as an integral member of the group of autocephalous Orthodox Churches worldwide.”

This is a preposterous and outright deceptive claim; every point in it is false. The facts are that Epiphany (and those under him) has caused greater division and promoted persecutions; he has acted in an altogether unchristian manner. The fact is that he has no canonical ordination whatsoever. May we now be heathen inwardly as long as we wear pretty vestments? May we be full of dead man’s bones, as long as we work “as a defender of the religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate …”? What does it say of such “freedoms” when it enlists false christians to defend it? What does it say of such “freedoms” when it relies on violence and persecution to advance them?

No “reunification” has taken place at all! Rather, Epiphany of the OCU has only promoted disunity, together with those behind him. Lord, please preserve us from “Eucharistic unity” with the likes of these!

Has the EP replaced Christ the Lord as the standard of Holy Orthodoxy and the Head of the Church? Is he the new Pope of Orthodoxy? Has the goal of maintaining the perceived honor and prestige of the EP replaced the true Christian vocation of being a humble servant of Christ the Lord and His Church? Has “ethnos” gained a place of prominence above being born anew in Faith? 

Have we forgotten the spiritual joy our Christian forefathers and mothers experienced when they suffered persecution and disdain from the world for the sake of the Cross of our Lord? Is preserving worldly prestige and agendas of more value than that honor which comes from God alone?

“A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them … was the greatest. And Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become the youngest, and the leader as one who serves’” (Lk. 22:24-26).

Today some strive to defend “prestige” through any means. How far we have fallen!?

The growing “recognition” of the false “Met.” Epiphany by those who promote a narrow Greek “ethnos” is an absolute disgrace and travesty.  It is a betrayal of everything true Orthodox Greeks stood and fought for.

How is it possible that an uncanonical “Bishop” with an illegitimate “ordination” who heads a “church” that actively persecutes (with violent acts) the longstanding true and canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church would be legitimate in any way? The Scripture says, “If anyone says ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 Jn. 4:20).

Are we so in love with ourselves that the Scriptures are no longer relevant? Are we simply going to praise whitewashed tombs because they serve worldly political agendas and personal aggrandizement? Will we be silent as true Christians suffer and false ones are exalted? Woe to us if we lose our salt, for we will be trampled underfoot even in our pretty vestments and lofty thrones. Woe to us when we call evil good. The “recognition” of the OCU and its support is calling that which is evil – schism, division, and persecution – good. Or as another priest has already said, “somehow this looks completely demonic.”

Those who promote and agree with these actions are in fact participants in them. They themselves are also facilitators of the persecution of the True Church in Ukraine under His Beatitude Met. Onuphry; their hands are also stained with blood.

The glorification of schismatics is heresy. Serving with them is apostasy.

Will other Orthodox Hierarchs speak against these machinations? In America, will we remain silent as the leaders of the Greek Archdiocese actively promote a false church in Ukraine and glorify its leader, Epiphany? What authentic unity will there be if it’s explicitly clear that some have entered into fellowship and union with the schismatic OCU? Let us not deceive ourselves, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Gal. 5:9).

Will we stand with the true Hierarch of Ukraine, His Beatitude, Met. Onuphry, and the suffering faithful there? Will we stand with the persecuted Church?

Will Orthodox Greeks honor their laudable ancestry and heritage by speaking out in defense of their true Orthodox brethren in Ukraine? Or will they become like new Turks: participants in the active persecution of fellow Orthodox brethren?

** Aug. 2022. Since I penned this article almost three years ago, much has transpired. Many more under the sway of “ethnos” and “primacy” have entered into communion with the false “church” in Ukraine. Epiphany is set to travel to Greece in September of this year and serve with the primate of the Church in Greece and Pat. Bartholemew. Thus, it seems, very sadly, these few years later, my appeal to Orthodox Greeks still is pertinent.