Washington, DC – Seventy years ago tomorrow, Greek Orthodox Archbishop Damaskinos signed a letter publicly denouncing the Holocaust and the deportation of the Jewish community of Greece.
The Archbishop’s appeal was unique. According to the Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, the Archbishop was the only religious leader in an occupied country to publicly protest the Holocaust as it was occurring.
This letter, which was signed March 23, 1943 by the Archbishop and 27 other prominent Greek leaders and intellectuals, said:
“All the children of Mother Greece are an inseparable unity: they are equal members of the national body irrespective of religion or dogmatic differences. Our holy religion does not recognize superior or inferior qualities based on race or religion, as it is stated: ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek’ (Gal. 3:28) and thus condemns any attempt to discriminate or create racial or religious differences. Our common fate both in days of glory and in periods of national misfortune forged inseparable bonds between all Greek citizens, without exemption, irrespective of race.”
Our community should be proud of the role our church played in protecting the Jewish community during the Holocaust. Under Damaskinos’ leadership, the Church of Greece publicly condemned Hitler’s plans and instructed priests to announce the church’s position in sermons. As well, the Archbishop oversaw the creation of thousands of false Christian baptismal certificates and identity papers for Jews fleeing persecution, and he urged Greek Orthodox monasteries, convents and parish priests to provide shelter to Jews. In doing say, he saved thousands of lives.