BOSTON – His Beatitude Archbishop of Athens and All Greece in a TNH interview said that “the refugee problem is huge and cannot be carried only by Greece alone; the issue should be internationalized.” The archbishop invited the United Nations, Europe and the United States of America to assume initiatives and express support.
He also praised the Greek-American community and expressed heartfelt thanks and gratitude for its substantial help and contribution. “It is this help [that enables] many people in Greece have a decent meal every day.”
His Beatitude spoke very highly about the people of Lesbos, which he visited recently, along with Ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis.
Ieronymos said that “the burden for Greece is double. On one hand, we have so many needs due to economic crisis and on the other hand we have the refugee problem. Greece can’t lift this entire burden. The refugee issue should be dealt by the United Nations because after all, they are the ones who took those people out of their homes.”
Ieronymos was very touched by the situation on Lesbos. He said “all those people are innocent; they left their homes and seeking asylum to go where? Now there is a process going on for asylum but where are they going to go since the borders are closed?” In this writer’s village of Moria alone, there are 1,800 people.
Regarding Europe’s closed borders, he said: “here in a poor place like Greece there is humanity; in Europe, humanity dies.”
The archbishop spoke with warm words from his heart about the Greek-American community, which he loves and which he got to know her two years ago when Holy Cross Greek School of Theology of Boston bestowed upon him the honorary degree of Theology. “We are grateful to the community because if many Greeks today have a warm meal it is because of the Greeks of the Diaspora in general, but particularly of those in America. Others have sent help and contributions once or twice but they got tired or they couldn’t help any more, but the Greek-American community helps us continuously. Europe hasn’t given us not one euro; they said that they allocated funds, but nothing yet.”
His Beatitude praised the people of Lesbos for their love, generosity and philanthropy towards the refugees. “I admired those authentic, simple people who have themselves experienced the drama of the refugee. I was touched by their sacrifices, they give whatever they can, and that’s why I said humanity is alive in Greece. Those grandmothers who were feeding the refugee infant must become an icon.”
Ieronymos would say to President Obama: “shame to the world, shame to the civilization, and you should assume initiatives to stop the war and those refugees to returns to their homes as soon as possible.”
He said “something should be done. We can’t abandon those people waiting. Lesbos can’t lift that entire burden abandoned by Greece, by Europe, and by the world.”
He said that Greece is doing what it can for refugees and for hungry Greek citizens. “In Athens alone we distribute 53,000 meals every day and thousands of packages are distributed daily to homes. To the refugees, we give only meals, Those compatriots who suddenly became poor because they lost their stores, businesses, and jobs don’t stand in line for the church distribution of meals for a plate of free food because it is a matter of dignity for them. We have found a way and we deliver packages to their homes every 15 days. That doesn’t resolve the problem, but it helps them a lot.”
After the visit with Bartholomew and Francis, Ieronymos made a three-day pastoral visit to Metropolises and cities in Northern Greece and especially in Thrace. He said “we just came back from Thrace, you should see the people there. Besides their poverty and financial difficulties they have enthusiasm, they are struggling to stand on their own feet.”
How are they – Christians and Muslims – all getting along? “For now, there isn’t problem,” Ieronymos said. “But we have to watch those who undermine this and the other side. We should be cautious, careful, and not quarrelsome.”