Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Dodoni Condemns Antisemitism, Highlights Christianity’s Ties to Judaism
Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Dodoni, a hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, issued a statement addressing antisemitism and expressing support for the Jewish people. His remarks on the deep spiritual connection between the two religions came amid escalating international conflicts and sparked widespread discussion in both religious and political circles.
In his theological address, the hierarch emphasized that Christianity historically grew out of the Jewish tradition. The metropolitan reminded believers that the Old Testament is an integral part of Christian Scripture and therefore that incitement to hatred on national or religious grounds is absolutely unacceptable. To illustrate the inseparability of these traditions, he made a statement that became the main focus of debate: “Greek Christians are also Jews.”
For Zakynthos, where Chrysostomos of Dodoni served as a spiritual leader for many years, the protection of Jews carries special historical significance. During the German occupation in World War II, local clergy and residents performed a heroic act by sheltering the island’s entire Jewish community from deportation. The Metropolitan of Zakynthos at the time and the island’s mayor refused to hand over lists of Jews to the Nazis, offering the authorities only two names — their own. Thanks to this courageous act, not a single Jewish resident of the island was deported.
The hierarch’s statement drew mixed reactions. In Israel, the metropolitan’s remarks were warmly received and described as an important step toward strengthening interfaith dialogue. Representatives of the Jewish community noted that remembering such historical ties helps build bridges of mutual understanding.
However, his remarks provoked a storm of outrage on social media from pro-Palestinian activists. Critics accused Chrysostomos of Dodoni of “whitewashing Israel” and distorting the meaning of antisemitism. At the same time, observers noted that critics failed to clarify what exactly they believed constituted this distortion, reducing a theological and humanistic message to aggressive political slogans.
