Belgian Orthodox Bishop Condemns War During Easter, Calls Fighting Among Orthodox “Deplorable”

Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxembourg, delivered a strong anti-war message during the Orthodox Easter celebrations, calling the conflict between Russia and Ukraine “deplorable.” As the representative of Orthodox Christians in the Benelux region, he condemned the violence, emphasizing that it is unacceptable for Orthodox Christians to fight one another. The bishop expressed shame at the situation, noting the suffering caused by war in Belgium, where two world wars were fought in the 20th century.

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a temporary 32-hour truce for Orthodox Easter, but the war shows no sign of abating after more than four years. Metropolitan Athenagoras, who was born in Ghent in 1962, has witnessed the evolution of the Orthodox presence in Belgium. His role involves maintaining connections with communities, representing their interests, and ensuring unity among the country’s Orthodox Christians.

The bishop’s flock includes a diverse group of Orthodox Christians, with around 250,000 followers in Belgium. Over 100 active parishes serve the community, which encompasses various cultures, ethnicities, and languages. Followers include Bulgarians, Greeks, Romanians, Ukrainians, Serbians, and Russians, as well as ancient Oriental Orthodox communities such as the Coptic Church, Syro-Jacobites, Ethiopians, Eritreans, Assyrians, and the Malankara Church of Saint Thomas.

Athenagoras noted that the Orthodox Church remains largely unknown in Belgium because it does not actively seek converts, though the doors of its churches are open to all. Like many Christian denominations, the number of regularly practicing members has declined significantly. The bishop lamented this trend, observing that while churches fill up during Easter, such moments are rare in the liturgical tradition.

Source: Read the original report