Washington, DC- Seventy-one years ago today, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Greece signed a letter publicly denouncing the Holocaust and the deportation of the Jewish community of Greece.
Archbishop Damaskinos’ appeal was not only courageous; it was other unique. According to the Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, he was the only national religious leader in a Nazi-occupied country to publicly speak out against 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.
Let no one forget that all actions done during these difficult times, even those actions that lie beyond our will and power, will be assessed some day by the nation and will be subjected to historical investigation. In that time of judgment, the responsibility of the leaders will weigh heavily upon the conscience of the nation if today the leaders fail to protest boldly in the name of the nation against such unjust measures as the deportation of the Greek Jews, which are an insult to our national unity and honor.”
The Greek community should be proud of the role our church played in protecting the Jewish community during World War II. In addition to condemning Hitler’s Holocaust plans, under Damaskinos’ leadership the Church also oversaw the creation of thousands of false Christian baptismal certificates and identity papers for Greek Jews fleeing persecution. He urged Greek Orthodox monasteries, convents and parish priests to provide them shelter. In doing say, he saved thousands of lives.