Patr. Bartholomew: Russian Propaganda Does Not Intimidate Me
Patr. Bartholomew denounced Russian propaganda, condemned the war in Ukraine as unholy, and reaffirmed Constantinople’s commitment to Orthodox unity.
ATHENS — Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has forcefully rejected what he described as Russian “Stalinist propaganda narratives” and personal attacks against himself and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, insisting that such tactics neither intimidate nor silence him.
In an interview with the Greek newspaper Ta Nea Savvatokyriako, the Patriarch said Russian disinformation campaigns, internet trolls, and intelligence-linked statements ultimately expose, rather than conceal, the truth. He accused Moscow of projecting its own conduct onto Constantinople while attempting to fracture Orthodox unity through manipulation and ideological control.
Addressing the war in Ukraine, Patr. Bartholomew condemned efforts to label the conflict “holy,” calling the war expansionist and “demonic.” He reaffirmed the Patriarchate’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people and urged peace grounded in Ukraine’s sovereignty and reconstruction. The Patriarch also expressed concern for endangered Christian communities in the Middle East and voiced cautious optimism about the possible reopening of the Halki Theological School.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Patr. Bartholomew stated that Tradition is not conservative but creative.
