Holy Mount Athos, March 16, 2015
Elder Ephraim, Abbot of Vatopedi Monastery on Mt. Athos, has addressed himself to the Ukrainian people, calling them “to remain faithful to the canonical Church, the canonical primate and the canonical Synod,” reports the press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC MP).
Elder Ephraim said these words during his meeting with head of UOC MP, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev, who visited Mt. Athos last week.
The elder shared his concern about the events in the Ukraine.
“With a heavy heart I am anxious about the present state of the Ukraine and from Holy Mount Athos I am asking the Ukrainian people to remain faithful to the canonical Church, the canonical primate and the canonical Synod. We want the Ukrainian residents to support the canonical Church. It is important for one’s salvation, to obey the canonical Church,” Archimandrite Ephraim said.
The Athonite elder wished the Ukrainian people always to be under the protection of the Mother of God.
“We are praying with humility so that the Ukrainian nation might be protected by the grace of Jesus Christ,” he also said.
On March 13-14, 2015, the delegation of UOC MP headed by its first hierarch made a pilgrimage to Mt. Athos (Greece) where a prayer for the Ukrainian state and the long-suffering people was offered up. His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry prayed at the shrines of Athos so that the war in the Ukraine might stop quickly and the long-awaited peace might come.
