“Their war is expansionist, it is absolutely satanic, the result of vain people addicted to the opium of power,” Bartholomew said. Public Domain
In a searing rebuke of Russia’s religious and political narrative, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has labeled the invasion of Ukraine an “expansionist” and “absolutely satanic” conflict, flatly rejecting the Kremlin’s attempts to frame the violence as a “holy war.”
Speaking to the newspaper TA NEA, the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians delivered a defiant response to recent attacks from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), asserting that he is unmoved by state-sponsored intimidation.
Russia is “addicted to the opium of power”
The Patriarch did not mince words when discussing the theological justification offered by the Russian Orthodox Church for the invasion. He expressed profound sadness that ecclesiastical figures have “submitted to the dictates of political authorities” to repeat “unholy and heretical” narratives.
“No, therefore, it is not a holy war,” Bartholomew stated. “Their war is expansionist, it is absolutely satanic, the result of vain people addicted to the opium of power.”
He likened the Ukrainian resistance to “David against Goliath,” praising the bravery of those defending their homeland against forces seeking to lead the nation into “the darkness of humiliation, exploitation, and enslavement.”
Defiance in the face of intelligence attacks
The interview comes in the wake of unprecedented rhetoric from Russia’s intelligence services directed at the Patriarchate. When asked if he feared for his safety or the reputation of the See, the Patriarch was categorical.
“Frighten me? No, no! I am hardly afraid of Russian propaganda,” he said. “I am not afraid of insults, slander, indecencies, nor anything else they may be planning.”
He accused Moscow of employing “Stalinist propaganda tactics” and creating a “Russian-driven hybrid” that distorts true Orthodoxy. “They should fear the Day of Judgment, if they believe in it,” he added pointedly.
Diplomatic ties and the reopening of Halki
Beyond the conflict in Ukraine, the Patriarch touched upon his recent visit to the White House, describing a “warm atmosphere” in his discussions with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. He expressed hope that the U.S. administration remains committed to the ecumenical mission of the Mother Church.
Closer to home, Bartholomew shared a rare moment of optimism regarding the Theological School of Halki, which has been shuttered since 1971. Following an initiative by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, dialogue between the Patriarchate and the Turkish Ministry of National Education has intensified.
“I believe significant progress has been made,” the Patriarch revealed, noting that extensive renovations are currently underway. He expressed hope that by summer 2024, the school might finally receive its operating permit, ending a 55-year silence. “We will then invite His Excellency the President to inaugurate the reopening together.”
Concluding his remarks on the volatile global situation, the Patriarch offered a somber warning: “War is a defeat for humanity.” He urged world leaders to abandon “egoism and absolutism” in favor of international law, noting that every confrontation that undermines peace is a betrayal of the human person.
Related: Patriarchate Responds to Russia’s Attack on Bartholomew: ‘Fake News’