On this day in 1981 – Resolution of the Church of Greece in favor of the people of Northern Epirus

On October 7, 1981, the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece issued a historic resolution in support of the Greeks of Northern Epirus, who at that time were suffering harsh restrictions and persecution under the regime of Enver Hoxha. This decision, led by Archbishop Seraphim, marked a rare and bold public expression of solidarity of the Church with Hellenism abroad.

Through the resolution, the Hierarchy denounced the persecutions against the Orthodox Christians of Northern Epirus and called for full respect for their religious freedoms. At the same time, it appealed to the Greek government and political parties to exert the necessary diplomatic pressure on Albania to end the human rights violations of the Hellenists of Northern Epirus.

Before the issuance of the historic resolution of the Holy Synod in 1981, the Metropolitan of Dryinoupolis, Pogoniana and Konitsa, Sebastian, with his frankness and devotion to the Greek element of Northern Epirus, had already paved the way. Through lectures and public interventions throughout Greece, he defended the national and religious rights of the people of Northern Epirus, often provoking reactions from those who supported the Hoxha regime. Sebastian's work laid the foundation for the Hierarchy, under Archbishop Seraphim, to later issue the official resolution of support.

The full text of the Resolution is as follows:

RESOLUTION OF THE HOLY SYNOD OF THE HIERARCHY OF THE CHURCH OF GREECE
OCTOBER 7, 1981

The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece is following with indescribable anguish the persecutions that Orthodox Hellenism in Northern Epirus is undergoing at the hands of the godless regime of Enver Hoxha.

Τετρακόσιαι χιλιάδες (400.000) Έλληνες Ορθόδοξοι, με μακραίωνα χριστιανικήν, ελληνικήν και πολιτιστικήν παράδοσιν, υποχρεώνονται βαναύσως να ζουν χωρίς Θεόν και Θρησκείαν. Δεν υπάρχει εκεί ούτε εις Επίσκοπος σήμερον. Άπαντες οι Ιερείς απεσχηματίσθησαν και οι Ναοί εκλείσθησαν ή μετεβλήθησαν εις μουσεία και κέντρα ψυχαγωγίας. Τοιουτοτρόπως, επί σειράν ετών οι πιστοί μένουν αλειτούργητοι, αβάπτιστοι, ακήδευτοι, χωρίς Χριστούγεννα και Πάσχα και άλλας εορτάς. Συγχρόνως δε κατά χιλιάδες εξορίζονται και φυλακίζονται, δια τον λόγον και μόνον ότι είναι Χριστιανοί και Έλληνες. Τοιαύτη καταπίεσις του θρησκευτικού συναισθήματος εις ουδέν των υπαρχόντων αθέων ολοκληρωτικών καθεστώτων παρατηρείται.

Κατόπιν των ανωτέρω, η Ιερά Σύνοδος της Ιεραρχίας της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος, απευθυνόμενη δια του παρόντος προς το σεπτόν Οικουμενικόν Πατριαρχείον, τας λοιπάς Αυτοκεφάλους Ορθοδόξους Εκκλησίας, το Παγκόσμιον Συμβούλιο των Εκκλησιών, τον Οργανισμόν Ηνωμένων Εθνών και την παγκόσμιαν κοινήν γνώμην, αφ’ ενός μεν καταγγέλλει τους διωγμούς και τας πιέσεις εις βάρος του Ορθοδόξου Ελληνισμού της Βορείου Ηπείρου, αφ’ ετέρου δε ζητεί την παρέμβασιν πάντων παρά τη Κυβερνήσει των Τιράνων, όπωσ παύσουν οι ως άνω διωγμοί και καταστούν σεβαστά τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα τα οποία προβλέπονται από τας διεθνείς συμβάσεις περί Βορείου Ηπείρου, καθώς και από την σχετικήν παγκόσμιον διακήρυξιν περί των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων.

In particular, an appeal is made to the Greek Government and all the Parties of our Homeland, within the framework of diplomatic relations, to demand from the Albanian regime the restoration of religious freedoms in the aforementioned country.

Finally, the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece, with paternal affection, hereby addresses the wintering brothers of Northern Epirus and, on the one hand, urges them to remain steadfast and unwavering in the faith of Christ, and on the other hand, assures them that it not only prays, but that it will continue its struggle and support until the full restoration of their religious freedoms.

And already, it designates from here, as a day of prayer for the suffering brothers of Northern Epirus, the 3rd Sunday of November, during which time universal Memorial Services for the Martyrs and heroes of Northern Epirus, both older and younger, should be held in all the Holy Churches of the Country.

The Archbishop Of Athens and all Greece
SERAPHIM

The Holy Synod also designated the 3rd Sunday of November (November 15, 1981) as a day of prayer for the suffering people of Northern Epirus, with memorial services held in all churches of the country. This resolution was one of the most important public expressions of support of the Church of Greece towards Northern Epirus during the Cold War.