Athos monks observe a new Holodomor in the war against Ukraine because the whole country has sunk into and suffers from darkness and grief. People do not have water and millions are in such a situation, so the monks’ prayers are aimed at peace.
This was said by the hegumen (abbot) of the Athos monastery Xenophon, Archimandrite Alexis.
On November 24, 2022, with the blessing and direct participation of the abbot of the Athos monastery Xenophon, the first liturgy and memorial service for the victims of the Holodomor in Ukraine in 1932-1933 was held in the history of Athos. Archimandrite Alexis thanked the chief consul of Ukraine in Thessaloniki, Vadym Sabluk, for his initiative and kind words.
In the old church of the monastery, in which for a thousand years prayers have been offered, services have been performed and tears of repentance have been shed, both the fathers of the monastery and parishioners prayed for the victims of the Holodomor, the abbot said.
“It really was an extermination campaign against our Ukrainian brothers,” Archimandrite Alexis said, describing the Holodomor in Ukraine.
He says that the memorial service was probably the first one to be performed and everyone was moved because there are so many souls who have unjustly and wrongfully departed from this life in such a terrible way.
“We sympathize with and share this pain of Ukrainians. All the fathers of our monastery pray that the trouble will end as soon as possible because it does not bring anything good,” said Abbot Alexis.
