Archbishop Elpidophoros of America visited northern Chios, Greece, which was recently affected by wildfires, during an unofficial trip. He expressed solidarity with residents who suffered losses and emphasized the importance of environmental protection and recovery.
Condemnation of human negligence
Visiting villages surrounded by charred hillsides, Elpidophoros spoke of his sorrow at witnessing the aftermath of blazes he attributed to human negligence and indifference.
“It is tragic,” he said, “to see this paradise we inherited, this land and the beautiful nature of Greece, transformed into a wasteland, a true hell.”
Archbishop Elpidophoros’ call for collective action
Archbishop Elpidophoros emphasized that collective action is essential to ensuring such disasters are not repeated. “It is our obligation to find ways to protect the environment we are called to love and to work together so that what the wildfires destroyed, we may restore and turn once again into a paradise,” he added.
Local officials and residents welcomed the Archbishop’s visit as a gesture of moral support. His statements also highlighted the broader challenge of rehabilitating fire-ravaged areas, which face ecological damage and threats to livelihoods.
The Archbishop emphasized that recovery is not only a local priority but part of Greece’s shared duty to safeguard its natural heritage for future generations.
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