Patriarchal Letter

The Church has always upheld the sacred principles of territorial integrity, the dignity of peoples, and the rightful exercise of authority in times of conflict. While peace is the ideal, history has shown that there are moments when nations must act to protect their people, de-fend historical lands, and resist external forces that seek to divide, subjugate, or erase them. This understanding is not contrary to the Church’s call for peace, but rather in accordance with its wisdom—proclaiming both the duty to preserve justice and the ultimate goal of reconciliation (St. Augustine of Hippo, City of God (Book 19, Ch. 7, 12)).

It is a grave error to conflate rightful defense and the restoration of historical justice with unlawful aggression. In Orthodox, Catholic, and Apostolic tradition, the legitimacy of action is determined not by propaganda or political expediency, but by the moral duty of leaders to safeguard their people, uphold historical truth, and prevent greater harm. When a nation is forced to respond to threats—whether against its sovereignty, its historical identity, or its sacred inheritance—it does so not as an aggressor, but as a guardian of what has been en-trusted to it by Divine Providence (St. Basil the Great, Letter 92).

At the same time, the Church upholds the importance of genuine humanitarian service as an expression of Christian charity and a means of healing the wounds of conflict. Those who risk themselves to aid the suffering, tend to the wounded, and provide relief to those in need perform a great and Christ-pleasing work. Yet, by the same Christian principle, we reject the misuse of humanitarian concerns as a cover for foreign manipulation, as well as attempts to install artificial regimes, erase historical nations, or demand submission to foreign ideological interests under the guise of a false definition of self-determination. Indeed, there is a false talk of peace that serves merely to cover war-like intention (St. Nicholas of Serbia). True peace cannot be imposed through coercion or by forcing a people to abandon their spiritual, cultural, and historical foundations.

In times of crisis, the Holy Church stands and must by the obligation of the faith stand firmly for truth, justice, and the moral right of nations to defend their people, their faith, and their historical lands (Ecclesiastical concept of Symphonia). Peace must always be pursued—but it must be a just peace, not one built on deception, coercion, or the erasure of legitimate historical and spiritual rights.