Bartholomew I of Constantinople is the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide. Below you can read a speech delivered on 29 March in Warsaw at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University campus during Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to the Ukrainian war refugees stationed there.

„You gave your homes and your hearts to your neighbours resettled from Ukraine. The whole world owes you a huge debt of gratitude. Your solidarity with them – a true gift from heaven – is the only thing that can overcome evil and darkness in the world, says Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople.

Today, together with Bishop Stanisław Gądecki, we have met people and families displaced from neighbouring Ukraine.

It is never easy to put a face or name to painful experiences. It is much easier to teach about suffering in theory. And it is simply impossible to imagine how much havoc this terrible invasion has caused in the Ukrainian nation and around the world!

Our experience over those two days was truly heart-rending. There is nothing easy about meeting people who have left – and continue to leave – the safety of their homes. It’s not comfortable talking to women, children and the elderly who have either left or lost their loved ones. Who have, in fact,  have left all they had, except for precious memories. These memories can never be taken away from them.

I admit that there are no words to describe what we have seen. I will therefore quote Jeremiah the prophet:

“Oh, that my head were waters,
And my eyes a fountain of tears,
That I might weep day and night
For the slain of the daughter of my people!”

(Jeremiah 9:1, New King James Version).

During my time here, I have realised with all the intensity that sometimes there is no room but for tears. Sometimes, the only appropriate response is silence. Sometimes, we can only offer the power of touch, consolation and companionship.

We have already congratulated you on your generosity and hospitality – all of you from Poland and other countries neighbouring Ukraine. You gave your hearts and, literally, your homes to your fellow human beings. The whole world owes you a huge debt of gratitude.

That is exactly what I felt meeting young boys and girls separated from their families, mothers who have left their sons to fight for their homeland and elderly who still carry vivid memories of the past wars.

So when you look into the eyes of these refugees, remember that they are not only displaced immigrants but human beings like you and me. Remember that, were it not for the grace of God, each of us could find ourselves in a precarious position.

Then your hearts will melt, their fears will become your fears, their pain will penetrate your body, their hopes will become your hopes, and this whole crisis will become the standard by which your identity and love will be measured and judged.

Our sincere prayer and appeal to you all is that you never forget the tears, faces and anguish of your brothers and sisters from Ukraine. Your solidarity with them – a true gift from heaven – is the only thing that can overcome evil and darkness in the world.”

Source: portal dlapolonii.pl