Iraq Appeal
A Plea for Peace from the Orthodox Peace Fellowship in North America
As Orthodox Christians, we seek the conversion of enemies to friends in Christ. Saddam Hussein is an enemy of the United States and of the people of Iraq, but we declare that there are better ways to respond to terrorism than to respond in kind.
We do not argue against attacking Iraq because of any admiration for Saddam Hussein. He came to office by intrigue and murder, and remains in power by the same means; he is his own country’s worst enemy. The Iraqi people deserve to be rid of him.
The United States is ready to overthrow him by any means, including an attack which would kill thousands of civilians and maim many more, justifying such an attack on the possibility that Hussein’s regime is producing weapons of mass destruction and preparing to use them against America and Israel and their allies.
Because we seek the reconciliation of enemies, a conversion which grows from striving to be faithful to the Gospel, the Orthodox Church has never regarded any war as just or good, and fighting an elusive enemy by means which cause the death of innocent people can be regarded only as murder. Individual murderers are treated by psychiatrists and priests and isolated from society. But who heals the national psyche, the wounded soul of a nation, when it is untroubled by the slaughter of non-combatant civilians?
As Orthodox Christians, we find healing in Christ, Who made us responsible for His sacred gift of life. God created us in His image and likeness, and we best reflect Christ — Who neither killed anyone nor blessed anyone to kill — by loving, helping, and forgiving.
Friends help each other do good things, not evil things. We find echoes of holy friendship in the world’s unfolding reaction to events in Iraq.
Many nations traditionally allied with America — along with many patriotic Americans — oppose an invasion of Iraq. They see how difficult a position the US will assume by attacking Iraq, and seek instead a renewed program of weapons inspection.
Iraq’s closest neighbors are far from supportive of the course the United States is pursuing, even though they are aware of Saddam’s shameful, destructive regime. Not having rallied to America’s side does not mean that they support Saddam.
An attack on Iraq will be seen by many as an attack on all Arabic and Islamic states. America, despite the rhetoric, is perceived as seeing itself under attack by Islam. America helped install and maintain the despotic Shah of Iran, but withdrew its support when Iran became an Islamic republic (itself undemocratic in many ways). Now America is seen as the largely uncritical supporter of Israel, against the interests of Palestinians, both Muslim and Christian. Bombing Iraq will confirm these perceptions among Muslims.
An attack by Saddam on any nation would be viewed as proper cause for a military response to Iraq by the attacked nation and its allies, as was the case with Kuwait. This may not be good, but it is true. Saddam now attacks only his own people, and they need help — but not the “help” of being killed in an effort by other countries to bring about “regime change” in Iraq.
“Pre-emption” (the notion that one nation may attack another because of what it might do) is philosophically, ethically, and pragmatically perilous. After all, an enemy may return the favor. Once “pre-emption” is established as a valid principle for international relations, nations which invoke that principle will have no conceptual shelter.
If the world can be convinced that it’s possible to work peacefully to make life more livable for all, we will all be better off. This is the reconciliation we hope for as Christians among individuals. Can it not happen among nations, between Iraq and its neighbors, and for all the good people of the world?
The Orthodox Peace Fellowship calls on the United States and the United Nations to follow diplomatic paths predicated on mercy, honesty, and justice, and to seek peacefully negotiated resolutions to the impasse in Iraq.
We implore Christ, Who is our peace, to bless every endeavor directed toward our complete reconciliation with each other, and with Him.
The Council for the Orthodox Peace Fellowship in North America:
John Brady, Jim Forest, David Holden, Daniel Lieuwen, John Oliver, Deacon John Oliver III, Alex Patico, Sheri San Chirico, Monk James Silver and Renee Zitzloff
A partial list of other signers as of 19 March 2003:
Archbishop Peter of New York and New Jersey, Orthodox Church in America, External Affairs
Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Bishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest, Orthodox Church in America
Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada, Orthodox Church in America
Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk, Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Administrator of Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA
Bishop Basil of Sergievo, Diocese of Sourozh, Russian Orthodox Church in Great Britain
Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia, Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain
Rebecca Alexander , member, Christ the Savior Orthodox Church, Nashville, Indiana
Fr. Paisius Altschul, St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church, Kansas City, Missouri
Hierodeacon Amvrosi, Communaute de St Serafin de Sarov, Rawdon, Quebec
Sadie Barchini, Vice President, Orthodox Christian Fellowship at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
Timothy Beach, director, Agape School; Reader & lay missionary, Orthodox Church in Taiwan
Carol Bebawi, Centre for the Study of Islam & Christian-Muslim Relations, University of Birmingham, member of St Aidan & St Chad parish, Nottingham, England
Fr. John Behr, Associate Professor of Patristics, St. Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, New York
Alexander Belopopsky, Programme Executive for Europe, World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland
Carmela Biggs, R.N., case manager, Raphael House, shelter for homeless families, San Francisco, California
Brother Pierre Blais , ThD, Monastic Society of S. Silouan the Athonite, OCA, Canada; Instructor, Dep’t of Religion, University of Toronto; Orthodox Church in America representative, Justice & Peace Commission, Canadian Council of Churches.
Rev. Ted Bobosh, priest, St. Paul’s Orthodox Church, Dayton, Ohio
Hildo Bos, Acting President, Syndesmos: the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth; member, St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Dr. Peter Bouteneff, Assistant Professor of Dogmatic Theology, St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, New York
Marie Boyko LaGuardia, member, St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church, Denver, Colorado
V. Rev. John Breck, Professor of Bioethics and Patristic Exegesis, St. Sergius Theological Institute, Paris, France; Director, St. Silouan Retreat, Charleston, South Carolina
Catherine Brockenborough, Esq., attorney, Nashville, Tennessee
Rev. Marcus C. Burch, St John of the Ladder Orthodox Church, Greenville, South Carolina
Prof. Sheila D. Campbell, Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, Toronto, Canada
Fr. William Christ, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Brother Christopher, Hieromonk; Brother Elias, Monk; Brother Stavros, Monk, New Skete Monastery, Cambridge, New York
Fr. John Chryssavgis, Professor of Theology, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts
Fr. Emmanuel Clapsis , Dean and Professor of Dogmatics, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts
Gregory Cook, writer and teacher; member of Holy Resurrection Church, Tacoma, Washington
Fr. Michael Dahulich, Dean, St. Tikhon Orthodox Theological Seminary, So. Canaan, Pennsylvania
Protodeacon Peter Danilchick, Oakton, Virginia
Fr. Demetrios Demopulos, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Helen Breslich Erickson, Lecturer in Liturgical Music, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, New York
John H. Erickson, Dean, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, New York
Fr. Dragan and Mirjana Filipovic, St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Canton, Ohio
Fr. Thomas FitzGerald , Th.D., Professor of Church History and Historical Theology, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts
Fr. Hilarion Frakes, St.John of Kronstadt Orthodox Mission, Reno, Nevada
V. Rev. Thomas Gallaway, St. Andrew Antiochian Orthodox Church Lexington, Kentucky
Fr. John Garvey, priest of the Orthodox Church in America; Commonweal columnist; New York City
Fr. Paul Gassios , St. Thomas the Apostle Orthodox Church, Indiana
Eleni Geanon , MA, Director of Alumni Relations Office, Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts
Hieromonk Alexander Golitzin, Associate Professor of Theology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Rev. Anastasios Gounaris, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Indianapolis, Indiana
Archimandrite Michael Graves, Maison Orthodoxe, Petion-Ville, Haiti, West Indies
Deacon James Gresh, Diocese of the Midwest, Orthodox Church in America, Canton, Ohio
Fr. Alexander Golubov, Academic Dean, St Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, South Canaan, Pennsylvania
Fr. Stanley Harakas, retired Professor of Orthodox Theology, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts
Fr. Gregory Havrilak, Associate General Secretary, Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, New York City
Fr. Stephen C. Headley, priest, parish of St. Stephen and St. Herman, Vezeley, France
Dr. Jurretta Jordan Heckscher, cultural historian, writer, and member of St. Mark Orthodox Church, Bethesda, Maryland
Fr. Oliver and Matushka Lorie Herbel, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, New York.
Fr. Mark Hodges, St. Stephen the First Martyr Orthodox Church, Lima, Ohio
Seraphim Alton Honeywell, Warden, Russian Parish of the Annunciation, Oxford, England
Fr. Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, New York
Chris Horattas , Board Member, St. Nicholas Orthodox School; member, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Akron, Ohio
Fr. Stephen Hrycyniak, Associate Pastor, Saints Cyril & Methodius, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Fr. David Hudson, Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America & Canada, Alpharetta, Georgia
Hegoumen Irenee, Communaute Monastique de St Serafin de Sarov, Rawdon, Quebec
Father Frederick & Presbytera Carol Janecek, Saints Cyril & Methodius Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Demetra Velisarios Jaquet, M.Div., member of St. Catherine Greek Orthodox, Greenwood Village, Colorado
Fr. John Jillions, St. Ephraim Orthodox Church, Cambridge, England
Victoria Jones, OCA Focus Curriculum Team, Parishioner of Holy Trinity, Overland Park, Kansas
Joan Kakascik , Ed.D., Psychologist, Parishioner of Christ the Saviour, Paramus, New Jersey
Fr. George E. Kalpaxis, retired priest, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, Baltimore, Maryland
Barbara Karol, parishioner, Christ the Saviour, Paramus, New Jersey
Valerie A. Karras, Th.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Greek Patristics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri; member, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, St. Louis, Missouri
Fr. Robert Kennaugh, St Nicholas Church, Narol, Manitoba, Canada
Nikola D. Kostich , M.D. and Carol M. Kostich , members of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, St. Paul, Minnesota
Charlie Kroll, Chief Financial Officer, Hellenic College/Holy Cross Seminary, Brookline, Massachusetts
Fr. Bratso Krsic, Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, Butte, Montana
Fr. Alexander Kuchta, pastor, Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, Palatine, Illinois
Paul Ladouceur, webmaster, ‘Pages Orthodoxes La Transfiguration, Rawdon, Quebec, Canada
Archpriest George Larin, Rector, Parish of the Russian Orthodox Holy Virgin Protection Church, Nyack, New York
Kevin Lawrence, Chair, String Department, North Carolina School of the Arts, University of North Carolina; Choir Director, Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, Greensboro, North Carolina
Dr. Violet E. Leathers, Associate Professor- Emeritus, College of Education, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio
Fr. Brooks Ledford, Director of San Antonio Catholic Worker House, priest of the Orthodox Church in America, attached: St. Anthony Orthodox Church, San Antonio, Texas
Dr. Philip LeMasters, Professor of Religion, McMurry University, Abilene, Texas
Rev. Gregory Long, Saint Anthony Orthodox Church, Butler, Pennsylvania
Claude Lopez , Language Professor, Switzerland
Serge R. Lopoukhine, Parish Treasurer, Holy Virgin Protection Russian Orthodox Church, Nyack, New York
Dr. Andrew Louth, Professor of Patristic and Byzantine Studies, University of Durham, England
Fr. Timothy Lowe, priest, SS Peter & Paul Church, Meriden, Connecticut
Nun Macaria, St. Xenia Metochion, Indianapolis, Indiana
Anne Glynn Mackoul, Princeton, New Jersey
Fr. John Manuel, Richmond, Virginia
Fr. Lawrence Margitich, Santa Rosa, California
Mother Mary Ann, Presentation of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Monastery, Canton, Ohio
Frederica Mathewes-Green, author, Baltimore, Maryland
Daniel C. Mathewson , Holy Assumption Orthodox Church, Canton, Ohio; teacher, St. Nicholas Orthodox Christian School, Mogadore, Ohio
Joe May, director, Matthew 25 House of Hospitality, Akron, Ohio
Mother Brigid McCarthy, St. Moses House, Kansas City, Missouri
V. Rev. Rade Merick, Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church, Steubenville, Ohio
Dr. Paul Meyendorff, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, New York
Fr. Thomas Moore, priest, Holy Apostles Orthodox Church, West Columbia, South Carolina
Fr. Elijah Mueller, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Jamaica Estates, New York
Fr. Thomas Mueller, Dean, Chicago Deanery, Orthodox Church in America; pastor, Saints Cyril & Methodius Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Presbytera Gina Mueller, Saints Cyril & Methodius Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Very Rev. John Nehrebecki, Dean of New Jersey, Orthodox Church in America
Fr. Anthony Nelson, rector, St. Benedict Russian Orthodox Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; director, Oklahoma Orthodox Christians for Life/Oklahoma Pro-Life Action Network
Evangeline Newton , Director of the Center for Literacy, University of Akron; member, Annunciation, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Akron, Ohio
Rick M. Newton , Chair of the Modern and Classical Languages Department, Kent State University; member Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Akron, Ohio
Archpriest Michael J. Oleksa, Dean, St. Innocent Cathedral, Anchorage, Alaska
Archpriest Sergei Ovsiannikov, rector, St. Nicholas of Myra Russian Orthodox Church, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Fr. George C. Papademetriou, Associate Professor of Theology, Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts
Fr. Harry Pappas, St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Alexander Patico, Senior Program Manager, Institute of International Education
Archpriest Stefan Pavlenko, Orthodox Church of All Russian Saints, Burlingame, California
Rachel Catherine Peters, M.Div., Orthodox Church of St. John the Russian, Ipswich, Massachusetts; Department of Internet Ministries, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Fr Michael Plekon, professor, Sociology/Anthropology, Program in Religion & Culture, Baruch College of the City University of New York
Fr. Victor S. Potapov, Rector, Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Washington, D.C.
Fr. Theodore Pulcini, Associate Professor of Religion, Department of Religion, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
Dr. Albert Raboteau, Professor of Religion, Princeton University, New Jersey
Fr. Patrick Radley, rector, Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Great Walsingham, England
Fr. Geoffrey Ready, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Mother Raphaela, Abbess, Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery, Otego, New York
Archpriest Basil Rhodes, rector, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Saratoga, California
Dr. Gabriel Jay Rochelle, teacher, Saint Sophia Theological Seminary, South Bound Brook, New Jersey
Jessica Rose, choir director, Russian Orthodox parish, Oxford, England
Fr. Dmitri Ross, St.Dunstan Orthodox Parish, New Zealand
Fr. Yakov Ryklin, St. Mary Magdalen Orthodox Church, New York City
Archimandrite Michael Rymer, Stockton, California
Fr. Herman Schick, pastor, St George Orthodox Church, Buffalo, New York; president of the Council of Orthodox Christian Churches on the Niagara Frontier
Fr. Paul Schroeder, Chancellor, Greek Orthodox Diocese of San Francisco
Very Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes, parish priest in Boise, Idaho, and president of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund USA
Eleana Silk , Librarian, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, New York
Fr. Alvian Smirensky, Schenectady, New York
Susan E. Steinhaus, member, St Paul’s Orthodox Church, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Catherine Sullivan, member, St. Nickolas Orthodox Church, Charlotte, North Carolina
Philip Tamoush, Orthodox Christian Communications Network, Torrance, California
Juliann and Catherine Tarsney, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, St. Paul, Minnesota
Professor Nikolai S. Tchertkoff , Chestnut Ridge, New York
Fr. Rastko and Vickie Trbuhovich , St. Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church, Lackawanna, New York
Very Rev. Andrew Tregubov; iconographer; rector of Holy Resurrection Church, St. Claremont, New Hampshire
Fr. Luke Veronis, adjunct professor at Holy Cross Theological Seminary and St. Vladimir’s Theological Seminary
Fr. Alexis Vinogradov, parish priest, Wappingers, New York
Rev. Aleksandar Vlajkovic, St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Boston, Massachusetts
Fr. Theodoor van der Voort, Holy Apostles Peter and Paul Church, Deventer, the Netherlands
Michael and Theodora Ward; editor, Orthodox Outlook; members, Greek Orthodox Church of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
Martin D. Watt, C.P.A., St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Parish, Dayton, Ohio
Donald L. Westcott, member, Holy Assumption Orthodox Church, Canton, Ohio
Deacon Timothy Wilkinson, Diocese of the Midwest, Orthodox Church in America, Canton, Ohio
Fr. Gregory Williams, St. John of Kronstadt Press, Liberty, Tennesee; administrator, Haitian Orthodox Mission (ROCOR)
Mary Winterer-Papatassos , member, St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Xenia Woyevodsky , member, St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
Lena S. Zezulin, Attorney, Washington, DC
Dn. Moses Zorea, St. James the Just Russian Orthodox Church, Anchorage, Alaska; attorney-at-law
The Orthodox Peace Fellowship in North America is a branch of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship International.
Patriarch Alexis: “Guide Our Feet Into the Way of Peace”
Statement by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on the Situation Around Iraq
For the last several months the world has lived in a situation of growing tension around Iraq. The USA with the support of Great Britain and some other countries are planning to launch large-scale military actions against this country, trying to justify them by the danger of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The Russian Orthodox Church, just as all people of good will, is concerned for the proliferation and the use of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. Many religious leaders have repeatedly stressed that the observance of international norms in this areas is one of the essential conditions for peace on the planet.
Insisting on a peaceful diplomatic way of settling this problem in Iraq, our Church has repeatedly called to lift up the economic sanctions from this country as they have already led to the suffering of civilians, especially sick people and children. In the context of efforts made by the world public to strengthen peace in the Middle East, we have established a dialogue with the religious, public and political leaders in Iraq.
In the course of the dialogue we stressed the necessity of taking such measures by Iraqi government that will remove all doubts of the international community regarding the war potential of this country. The decision to resume the work of international inspectors was accepted with satisfaction by the majority of people on our planet because that meant the choice for a peaceful way of settling the existing problems.
Today there are no reasons for stopping the mission of international inspectors and commencing military operations. Nations cannot be deprived of a chance to establish peace.
The war in Iraq will inevitably lead to the death and suffering of a tremendous number of innocent people, as always in such a case civilians like children, women, old people will be injured, there will be thousands of refugees. It is absolutely obvious that military operations in this oil production region can turn out to be a global ecological catastrophe. All this may blow up the situation in the Middle East, creating a threat to peace and stability in the whole world.
Today the Russian Orthodox Church addresses appeal to the governments of those countries on which the decision to begin or not to begin war depends to do all that is possible to avoid an armed conflict. For the actions that are taken without considering the opinion of the international community, the opinion of a majority of people on the Earth, destroy the existing system of international law and inter-governmental institutions. The first blow on its foundations was already struck by the bombing of Yugoslavia, which was initiated without the sanction of the United Nations and which led to destruction and death of thousands of people in the very center of Europe. Now another action is being prepared, which can turn the existing world order into ashes. The violation of legal norms sows chaos and arbitrariness, for lawlessness always generates more lawlessness. “They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind” (Hos.8:7), says Holy Scriptures.
Our Church supports the efforts of the governments, spiritual and public leaders in various countries who have come out against the military operations and rejects the attempts to justify this war. We call upon the nations of the world to stop military preparations against Iraq, to prevent bloodshed of innocent people. We plead the God “to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Lk. 1:79) and to protect the biblical earth of Iraq against the fire of war.
Moscow, 17 March 2003,
Sviato-Danilov monastery
The celebration of the 700 th anniversary of the assumption of Saint Prince Daniel of Moscow
* * *
Russian Orthodox Church
Department for External Church Relations
Office of Communication
Press-release, March. 17, 2003
http://www.russian-orthodox-church.org.ru/ne303171.htm
Department for External Church Relations
Office of Communication
22, Danilovsky val / St.Danilov monastery
113191 Moscow, Russia
Internet: http://www.russian-orthodox-church.org.ru
E-mail address: commserv@mospat.dol.ru
* * *
The following is an encyclical from His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco concerning the possibility of war with Iraq.
Make Peaceful the Nation in Times of War
Encyclical
To be read from the pulpit after the reading of the Gospel on Sunday, February 2, 2003.
To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics, Parish Councils, Philoptochos Societies, Choirs, Youth Organizations, and All the Faithful of the Metropolis of San Francisco:
Make peaceful the nation in times of war…
–Kontakion of the Feast of Meeting
My Beloved Children in the Lord,
On this day, as we celebrate the Great Feast of the Meeting of our Lord or Hypapanti, commemorating the entrance of Christ into the Temple, His reception in the arms of the Righteous Symeon, and His proclamation by the Prophetess Anna, I am writing as the arch-shepherd of this sacred Metropolis to express my grave concern over the course of recent events in our country and our world. The central themes that emerge from the hymnography, iconography, and scriptural texts of today’s feast are dialogue, encounter and communion. At this critical juncture in our nation’s history, as our leaders contemplate military action against the country of Iraq, we must take care that we do not abandon these values, embarking instead upon a path of reckless unilateralism. Today’s feast calls us to recognize and embrace Christ as did Symeon and Anna, receiving Him in the person of our brothers and sisters. Every encounter with another human being has the potential to become a true “meeting of the Lord,” the possibility of recognizing in the face of another the profound depths of the image and likeness of God. It is therefore absolutely imperative that we uphold justice, human dignity, and human rights, principles upon which this country was founded, and not rush heedlessly into a conflict in which tens of thousands of people will lose their lives.
The timeliness and urgency of this issue is underscored by the kontakion of today’s feast, which implores God to “make peaceful the nation in times of war.” Indeed, the Church cannot but plead with God for peace and for an end to all war, violence, and enmity. For the heart of the Church is the maternal heart of the Mother of God, which, as Symeon prophesied, is pierced as by a sword with the sufferings of her Son (Lk. 2:35). Symeon’s prophecy continues to be fulfilled today, for Christ has given His mother to be the mother of us all (cf. Jn. 19:26-27), and her heart continues to be pierced by the affliction of her children. While war may at times become inevitable, the Church feels deeply the terrible toll of human suffering that war exacts, and must therefore prophetically call for peaceful and diplomatic means to resolution of conflict as long as such alternatives are available.
My beloved children in the Lord, our nation stands at the brink of a precipice, contemplating a decision to launch a preemptive strike upon another nation for the first time in its history. At this time, as compelling evidence that Iraq poses an imminent threat to the world has yet to be uncovered, there does not appear to be a clear moral imperative for war. The rationalizations being offered for a hasty military solution fall short of just cause, and give the impression that we are rushing to attack another nation simply because we can, and because it serves our own narrowly defined economic and national interests.
On this day, I summon the clergy and laity of our Metropolis to prayer for our nation and for the world. As the prophets say, if the watchman blows an uncertain note, the people will not be warned, and the watchman will be accountable for their lives (cf. Ezekiel 33:6). It is therefore my duty as your bishop and the shepherd of this spiritual flock to sound a clear note of warning in such a time as this. We must not countenance a rush to war before diplomatic avenues are exhausted. We must not tolerate the taking of innocent human life in a first strike without just cause. And on this Feast of Meeting, we must prophetically proclaim that there are more effective and more lasting ways of securing peace than through violence and aggression, which serve only to fortify the “dividing wall of hostility” (cf. Eph. 2:14) that separates us from one another, cutting us off from the possibility of dialogue, encounter, and communion.
With Paternal Love,
+Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco
* * *
Statement of the Orthodox Bishops in Germany on the Iraq conflict
Dear brothers and sisters,
Four years ago, before and during the NATO mission in Yugoslavia, we urgently warned against the use of military force, which would not contribute to a real solution of the conflict but — on the contrary — only aggravate it and bring suffering, misery, mutilation and death to countless innocent people.
Events proved us right: in order to fight supposed or real injustice new injustice was tolerated, in fact only rendered possible through the war.
Now it looks as if a new war of immeasurable proportions is threatening our planet: an assault on Iraq. Of course, we do not overlook the fact that the regime in Iraq is partly responsible for the unfolding of the crisis.
Nevertheless we, together with the vast majority of Christian churches all over the world, are of the opinion that a war against Iraq conducted with “state-of-the-art” weaponry available to the United States will hit those people hardest who bear no responsibility for the escalation of the conflict, especially women and children.
Let us also not forget that a number of Orthodox and Oriental-Orthodox people are living in Iraq and are able to practice their faith. To them such a war would be in the literal sense existentially threatening.
For a number of years the Iraqi people have been suffering from the effects of a humanitarian catastrophe of enormous proportions and in the event of a war more immeasurable suffering and dying and an incalculable political future would lay ahead of them.
The consequences could not only be disastrous for Iraq but for the whole crisis-shocked region of the Middle East; again it must be feared that events following the war will foster inconceivable negative developments like an escalation of terror one supposedly wants to fight.
In this respect the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria Petros VII. recently wrote to the President of the United States of America, George W. Bush: “The Middle East is a sensitive area that is suffering a lot even now. This war would be considered an attack on Islam. And this impression, even if it was false, would have far-reaching and lasting consequences for the region, the faithful and their reputation. It is not in the nature of religion to delve into politics, terrorism and war.”
We wholly support this point of view: there is no justification for war as long as there is the slightest chance of another solution to controversial problems. This means also that the UN inspectors can fully complete their work.
Any preventive act of war started before even the smallest, seemingly hopeless chance of a peaceful settlement has been tried in vain must be condemned.
In our opinion these chances have not nearly been utilized. Especially international humanitarian action aimed at improving the lot of the Iraqi people, which would hopefully lead to new diplomatic initiatives in coming to an agreement with the Iraqi government. A war would definitively foil any such attempt.
We join all those calling for peace and urge those who have not yet done so to set a sign of peace and do all they can to spare humanity a new war whose consequences could be disastrous for us all.
We as the Orthodox Church in Germany call upon our faithful and their shepherds who - like all Orthodox — pray in each service for “the peace from above” to implore God Almighty to grant peace to the whole world and enlighten the leaders of all nations and all peoples to help build a world where humans no longer use violence against their brothers and sisters, a world that loves the God-given life and converges in justice and solidarity.
Dortmund, January 29th 2003
For the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Augoustinos, Metropolitan of Germany, Exarch of Central Europe
For the Russian Orthodox Church:
Longin , Archbishop of Klin, Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Germany
For the Serbian Orthodox Church:
Konstantin , Bishop for Central Europe
For the Romanian Orthodox Church:
Serafim , Metropolitan of Germany and Central Europe
For the Bulgarian Orthodox Church:
Simeon , Metropolitan of Western and Central Europe
translation by Christiane Doering
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece on the War in Iraq
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, with a deep sense of its pastoral responsibility and an awareness of its obligations before God and its Christian pleroma, follows with concern and sadness, together with the People of God, the continuous threat of war, under which mankind lives.
This concern also covers the possibility of a wider outbreak of hostilities in the area, which will clearly have adverse consequences for our country.
The Church of Greece once again concludes that it is necessary that peace prevail in the life of all men. Peace is not an unseen good or an abstract condition, but the gift and fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Church continuously prays and labors that peace may prevail throughout the world. Of course its prevailing is dependent upon the prevailing of freedom and justice. It is inconceivable that peace can prevail in the life of mankind when totalitarian regimes oppress human beings or when elementary rules of justice are violated.
The Church of Greece also wishes to express her sympathy and her support to all those who, regardless of nationality, race or religion, find themselves tested and tried by war.
She congratulates all those who labor for the cause of peace and who struggle against violence, regardless of its origin. Certainly the Lord will bless their efforts, even when these do not evoke a response in the hearts of all.
She prays that our Lord, the Prince of Peace, will enlighten the political Leaders of this world so that in a spirit of discretion and peace they will exhaust all their efforts to find peaceful solutions through the existing competent global organs.
Athens, 4th February, 2003
http://www.ecclesia.gr/English/EnHolySynod/messages/iraq.html
From the Press Office of the Holy Synod.
* * *
Patriarch of Alexandria’s Appeal for Peace to President Bush
http://www.ecclesia.gr/English/news/jan9_dt2.html
Alexandria, 2nd January 2003
Ref. No. P.V./3
His Excellency President George G. Bush
President of the United States of America
The White House,
Washington D.C., USA
Your Excellency,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill toward men.” –Luke 2:14
From the historic city founded by Alexander the Great and where Christianity was preached by St. Mark the Apostle and Evangelist; from the land of the Nile river and a country which is a model and example of harmony between Christians and Muslims, I wish to make an earnest call to Your Excellency to avoid any attacks on Iraq. If Iraq is attacked, the negative consequences of such an attack would not only be felt by the peaceful land of Egypt but the whole world as well.
As the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria and All Africa, a Church that has existed for the last two thousand years, I call on Your Excellency to try and find a peaceful solution rather than that of war. The Middle East is a sensitive area that already is suffering greatly. Such a war would be seen as an attack against Islam. Such an impression, though false, would have unjust far-reaching and long lasting consequences upon religions, their faithful and their reputations. Religions, in essence, have nothing to do with politics, terrorism, and war.
From this holy place, I invite Your Excellency to offer up intense prayer to the Almighty God, who created us all, that peace may reign in the whole world. I also ask our Lord to enlighten all the leaders of all nations to work to build a world without violence, a world that loves life and grows in justice and solidarity.
May the New Year be a joyful, peaceful, graceful and blessed one for Your Excellency, the members of your beloved family, the people of the United States of America and the whole world.
With the love of our Incarnate Lord Jesus Christ,
+ Petros VII
Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa
In the Great City of Alexandria
January 2nd, 2003
* * *
Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate Warns Against War in Iraq
Moscow, Feb. 7, 2003 (Zenit.org) — The Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow announced an appeal from the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, calling for the cooperation of all those involved to overcome the crisis in Iraq.
Elijah II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, made the following statement on Iraq, Feb. 4, in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital: “Cold peace is dominating in the world today, which in the future can turn into a serious threat for many thousands and millions of innocent people. The ongoing processes are obliging us to take a more responsible attitude to the present situation.”
“The Georgian Orthodox Church calls upon everyone who is able to influence the developments concerning Iraq, to show more patience and sense in order to avert the threat of war. A military conflict can cause an unpredictable chain reaction and endanger the peace,” he continues.
“The Georgian church urges all Orthodox Christians to pray for peace,” he concludes.
* * *
Iraq War Would Be a “Disgrace for Humanity,” Says Serbian Orthodox
Vatican City, Feb. 6, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A representative of the Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate told John Paul II that a war against Iraq would be a “disgrace for humanity.”
The representative, Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro, is heading a delegation in Rome this week, to promote ecumenical rapprochement with the Catholic Church.
When the Orthodox metropolitan greeted the Holy Father today, he took advantage of the occasion to make an appeal for peace in Iraq.
“In the 20th century alone, our Church and our people were subjected to seven wars, and still today they suffer from profound wounds, especially in Kosovo,” Metropolitan Amfilohije said.
This is why the Serbian Orthodox Church, “together with His Holiness, requests the powerful of the earth, especially the United States and its allies, not to get involved in a new war, on this occasion against Iraq,” he added.
“This new war would be a new defeat for all of us and a new disgrace for the whole of humanity, and not just a humiliation and destruction of the honest Iraqi people,” he stressed.
The Serbian Orthodox Church has 9 million faithful spread over 32 dioceses worldwide, including four in North America, two in Western Europe, and two in Australia and New Zealand.
* * *
Letter from Petros VII, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, to the President of the USA George Bush
2 January 2002
http://www.orthodoxeurope.org/europaica/000006.php#4
‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill toward men.’ (Luke 2:14)
From the historic city founded by Alexander the Great and where Christianity was preached by St. Mark the Apostle and Evangelist; from the land of the Nile river and a country which is a model and example of harmony between Christians and Muslims, I wish to make an earnest call to Your Excellency to avoid any attacks on Iraq. If Iraq is attacked, the negative consequences of such an attack would not only be felt by the peaceful land of Egypt but the whole world as well.
As the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria and All Africa, a Church that has existed for the last two thousand years, I call on Your Excellency to try and find a peaceful solution rather than that of war. The Middle East is a sensitive area that already is suffering greatly. Such a war would be seen as an attack against Islam. Such an impression, though false, would have unjust far reaching and long lasting consequences upon religions, their faithful and their reputations. Religions, in essence, have nothing to do with politics, terrorism, and war.
From this holy place, I invite Your Excellency to offer up intense prayer to the Almighty God, who created us all, that peace may reign in the whole world. I also ask our Lord to enlighten all the leaders of all nations to work to build a world without violence, a world that loves life and grows in justice and solidarity.
May the New Year be a joyful, peaceful, graceful and blessed one for Your Excellency, the members of your beloved family, the people of the United States of America and the whole world.
* * *
Patriarch Bartolomeos warns of worldwide catastrophe over new Gulf War
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
The Independent (UK) / 17 November 2002
Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch, has added his voice to the growing religious outcry against war with Iraq.
Bartholomew, who leads 360 million Christians worldwide, told The Independent on Sunday last week that there would be “catastrophic consequences” if the US and Britain attacked.
His intervention follows a strongly worded message from Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, head of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales, and fellow bishops saying that it was a “moral responsibility to avoid this war”.
Bishops of the Church of England have also declared that the conflict would not qualify as a “just war”, defined by religious tradition. Both George Carey and Rowan Williams, the old and the new Archbishops of Canterbury, have spoken out against the war, as have the Methodists, Baptists and Quakers.
Patriarch Bartholomew said he hoped that the peace movement would forestall an outbreak of hostilities.
“There is a greater awareness of the catastrophic consequences, and that is why there is so much reaction against the eventuality of a war in Iraq taking place,” he said.
“There is a general reaction in Europe, and in the United States itself, and I think that finally we will be able to avoid a new war with consequences — not only for the region but for the whole world — that we cannot foresee.”
Patriarch Bartholomew’s intervention is particularly significant as he lives and works on the interface between Christianity and Islam.
His headquarters are in Istanbul, and he has made dialogue with Islam one of his main priorities since succeeding to the ecumenical throne 11 years ago.
Dubbed the “green pope” owing to his interest in the environment, he is best known in Britain for a special jubilee celebration put on for the Queen by the Alliance of Religion and Conservation, started by the Duke of Edinburgh.
* * *
On Iraq
statement issued by Metropolitan Philip
Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
While our country is on the brink of war with Iraq, it is the opinion of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America that our esteemed President and governmental leaders rethink their position and the logic behind this impending conflict. Such an attack will destabilize the entire region, cause untold harm to countless children and other civilians as well as bring political and social unrest to an already troubled area of the world.
It is our conviction that all United Nations resolutions must be implemented in a consistent and meaningful way. We must add that we find it hypocritical that Iraq is threatened with war and destruction for failing to comply with UN resolutions while another state in the same region is in violation of about seventy UN resolutions which have never been implemented. This continues to be a reality even as this state occupies land that does not belong to it, illegally expands and builds settlements on occupied territories and implements collective punishment on masses of innocent people because of the distorted actions of a few. We are fully aware that Saddam Hussein and his government have committed atrocious acts which are in violation of international law.
We are gravely concerned, however, that a war against Iraq will create even more chaos in the region. The overthrowing of the Iraqi government could cause the breakup of the country into warring factions for many years to come. In addition, the geo-political imbalance this war would cause in the area will take generations to repair. It is said that our government will “rebuild Iraq and help the people of Iraq to form a democratic government.” History has proven that this rarely comes to fruition. We need only look to the Balkans and Afghanistan as recent examples.
Therefore, we beseech our respected leaders and representatives and all those of good will to allow the United Nations inspectors to complete their mission. At the same time, we encourage our President and Congress to seek the difficult and tiresome road of peace rather than the bloody and dark road of war.
Metropolitan PHILIP Saliba, Primate Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
9 October 2002
http://www.antiochian.org/news/Release20021009_Iraq.htm
* * *
Patriarch Alexis urges USA to cancel Iraq war plans
Patriarch Alexis of Moscow addressed an appeal in September urging the United States not to initiate a war against Iraq.
“We should look for a peaceful but not military settlement of the Iraqi issue. War will only incur more suffering on people,” the patriarch said during a meeting with Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek.
Alexis stressed that it was necessary to take every opportunity to find a political solution of the Iraqi issue. The 21st century “must be a century of creation and not the one of destruction and bloodshed.”
* * *
Church leaders oppose war with Iraq
Leaders of North American and British churches have urged their governments to halt a “rush to war” with Iraq. They called on their governments to exercise restraint in the face of demands for military action to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from power. “We call upon our governments to pursue diplomatic means in active cooperation with the United Nations and to stop the apparent rush to war.”
The letter — released in September — was distributed by representatives of Orthodox, Protestant and Anglican churches and ecumenical organizations at a meeting in Geneva of the main governing body of the World Council of Churches.
The letter urges the two governments to work through the UN Security Council and to accept Saddam Hussein’s offer to resume UN weapons inspections.
The letter also condemned “threats to peace” posed by Iraq. The Iraqi government had a “duty to stop its internal repression” and “to abandon its efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction.”
But the letter stated that no evidence had been made public of an alleged build-up of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. This prevented the public from being able to make informed decisions about military action, the letter stated.
It accused the US and UK governments of “depriving the US Congress and the UK Parliament of the ability to make a considered judgement regarding the justification for war.”
The letter also expressed “alarm” about military action by an individual country without support from its allies or other nations, saying that this undermined respect for law.
The church leaders warned that war in Iraq could de-stabilize the region, pointing especially to the potential danger to Christians and other civilians living in the Middle East.
“Our knowledge of and links with church partners in the Middle East … make us very sensitive to the destabilizing potential of a war against Iraq for the whole region,” they said. They cautioned that war would harm Christian-Muslim relations, could result “in a direct military confrontation in Israel and strengthen the forces of extremism and terrorism.”
* * *
Orthodox Christians in Britain Urge Blair not to attack Iraq
Participants in an Orthodox retreat held in Dalmally, Scotland, in August, urged Prime Minister Blair not to join in a war against Iraq. The signers included Bishop Kallistos Ware, Orthodox scholar and author as well as member of the advisory board of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship.
“We, the undersigned members of the Orthodox Church in Britain, wish to add our support to the many pleas being made to you not to initiate war with Iraq. We hold no brief with Saddam Hussein. Indeed, it is clear that he has been responsible for the suffering of many people both in his own country and beyond. However, we believe there is no legal or moral basis to launch a war against another country simply on the grounds that it possesses weapons of mass destruction which might at some time in the future be used against us or our allies.
“If there is compelling evidence that, despite the testimony of former members of the UN inspection team, that Iraq is equipped and poised to use weapons of mass destruction, this evidence must be made public. Yet even were such evidence produced, it would not justify pre-emptive attack, such as Japan carried out against the United States in 1941.
“We are hopeful that the presence of UN weapon inspectors will be renewed in Iraq and that military sanctions can remain in place, though not a form of sanctions which has the effect of hugely increasing the mortality rate for the most vulnerable members of society: the children, the aged and the ill. It is estimated that more than half a million children have died in the past decade. According to Denis Halliday, former UN Assistant Secretary General and Humanitarian Aid Co-ordinator for Iraq, ‘We are in the process of destroying an entire society. It is as simple and terrifying as that. It is illegal and immoral.’ Halliday resigned in October 1998 in protest against the effect of sanctions as now applied.
“Eradicating the dangers posed by dictators and terrorists can be achieved only by tackling the root causes of the disputes themselves. Clearly one of the most pressing issues is the plight of the Palestinian people which fuels deepening animosity toward the allies of Israel while threatening the stability of several states in the Middle East. We appeal to you to do all in your power to end Israeli occupation and support the creation of a free and independent Palestine within secure borders so that Israelis and Palestinians will no longer be a danger to each other and their dispute no longer threaten world peace.
“We would agree with the recent letter signed by many senior clergy in Britain that it would be appropriate if those countries calling for the return of inspectors to Iraq were to open their own nuclear, chemical and bacteriological facilities to the same process of international inspection. Such an undertaking would demonstrate that we are willing to apply to ourselves the same standards we seek to apply to Iraq.
“An unprovoked attack on Iraq would bring shame on those countries who were a party to such an action. While Christ’s teaching that ‘all who draw the sword will die by the sword’ can be understood in a variety of ways, clearly it is no blessing to those who would initiate war.”
