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With paternal love and blessings,
+Archbishop DEMETRIOS, Chairman
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
+Metropolitan HERMAN
Orthodox Church in America
+Metropolitan PHILIP, Vice Chairman
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
+Archbishop NICOLAE
Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada
+Metropolitan CHRISTOPHER, Secretary
Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada
+Metropolitan JOSEPH
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church
+Metropolitan NICHOLAS of Amissos
American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese in the USA
+Metropolitan CONSTANTINE
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
+Bishop ILIA of Philomelion
Albanian Orthodox Diocese
April 2, 2003
Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana: Is Religion to Be Another Victim of this War?
Declaration Regarding the Iraq War by Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres and All Albania
Long is the list of victims from the war in Iraq: women and children, soldiers fallen or about to fall
in battle, the international economy, international legitimacy, the U.N., truth and justice, and many
others — whether by direct or indirect means. Religion, too, is in danger of becoming one of these
victims. Leaders of both sides have already used religious terms, by invoking God. In our time,
religions continue to influence people, but do not determine the decisions of political and
economic leaders. These decisions are made on the basis of different calculations and interests.
Religious consciousness, however, is called upon to resist war, so that religion retains its sacred
role of peacemaking, reconciliation, forgiveness and the healing of wounds.
At the numerous interfaith conferences that have taken place over the last few years,
representatives of different faiths have agreed that religion has to bring peace and support peace in
the world; that violence and terrorism –individual, group or state-initiated — are against the true
spirit of religion; and they have condemned, in particular, invoking God’s will to justify violence
and war.
At the same time, these participants have undertaken the responsibility to make the cries of those
who are suffering from violence their own, and contribute their utmost in securing the freedom
and dignity of every person and of all peoples.
The blowing winds of war must not sweep away the sacredness of religion, contaminating the
hearts of people with bitterness and enmity for each other’s religion. Much greater catastrophes
than those caused by weapons of mass destruction could be produced by the incitement of
religious intolerance. The radioactivity of hatred, enriched by the ‘uranium’ of religious passion,
will last long after hostilities have ceased, for decades, maybe even for centuries — as was the
case of the Crusades and “holy wars” in the past.
Those who believe in “the God of peace” (Rom 15:33; Phil 4:9; Hebr 13:20, etc.), and particularly
those who have committed themselves to serving Him, cannot help but repeat insistently the
supplication “for peace in the whole world”, and strive to do whatever is possible to let justice and
peace prevail on earth.