His Beatitude Anastasios, Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, on August 11, 2023, through His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, sent a letter to Metropolitan Joanathan of Tulchin and Bratslav with words of brotherly support and love in Christ. This was reported by the Information and Educational Department of the UOC.

“With deep sorrow, we observe the painful trials that you, beloved Most Reverend Bishop, and your chosen flock are experiencing,” the letter says. “We empathize with your suffering and, as far as possible, testify to the crimes against the pious Orthodox clergy, pious people, as well as famous shrines of Ukraine”.

The Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church assured in fraternal prayers “that God strengthen you and make you worthy” in everything to show yourself as a servant of God, in great patience, in troubles and need, in difficult circumstances, under blows, in prisons “(2 Cor. 6: 4-5)”.

“In our thoughts and prayers, we are unceasingly with you, so that, joining the ranks of the new martyrs, you too endure the current senseless persecution as befits an Orthodox Christian: “… in the Holy Spirit, in the word of truth, in the power of God … we are unknown, but we are recognized; we are considered dead, but here we are alive; we are punished, but we do not die” (2 Cor. 6:6-9)”.