The collapse of “existent socialism” – that is, the State’s realization of Marxist Communism – had caused some to speak of “the end of History”, of the end of ideological rivalry. And yet, with the rise of nationalist and religious fanaticisms, ideological confrontations have merely changed their content and their orientation. What is worse, with the rearrangements that have taken place in Eastern Europe, certain old conflicts have surfaced once again. Conflicts that the naivety of amateurism has labelled as “things of the past” which have gone, never to return!

This was precisely the predominant feeling in the sphere of inter-Christian relations also. A groundless and therefore unjustified euphoria had already come to prevail among a group of “pacifist” … pro-unionists, who seemed to believe that with the “Theological Dialogue” we have finally arrived at a new era of true union and genuine inter-Christian Love.  Especially in our relations with the “Roman Catholic Church”, such a clime of optimism had prevailed – expressed with suitable terminology (for example, “sister” or Latin “Church”, and the Pope as “elder brother”), that false impressions were implanted in many, while those aware of the reality have in vain been recommending self-restraint and have been accused as remnants of the medieval age and enemies of love and peace.

However, it is God Who is the Lord of History! The God of our Fathers. He is the God, not only of Love, nor even of loveless Love-mongers; He is also the God of Truth - the God Who for the sake of our repentance and salvation reveals the deliberations of our hearts (Luke 2:35) and sheds light on the tragic state we drag around in our existence.  The developments in Eastern Europe that followed the “Perestroika” also revealed the Vatican’s role in our time.  In other words, they not only revealed its true face and its fixed views on matters of essence, but also its intentions and its objectives. Furthermore, its intervention in the Balkans – in fact to the point of undermining and blatantly denying us our national rights – have not unjustifiably infuriated the Hellenic people, who were inadvertently reminded of the past, anti-Hellenic policies of the Papist State and have made them realize that the Theological Dialogue with the Vatican not only did not alter its stance, but as it turned out, is actually working in favour of the Vatican’s interests.

The Vatican’s involvement in Eastern European and Balkan affairs and its expansionist plans veiled under a religious mantle have been elucidated in every detail by the international Press as well as by other Mass Media, leaving no margin for doubt whatsoever. However, in this otherwise unbefitting activity that claims to be of an ecclesiastic character, there prevails a certain term, which has provoked the curiosity of the ignorant and the wrath of those who have a clear knowledge of the Vatican’s essence and its methods. It is the name UNIA. It was no small number of people in our Country who were unaware - not only of its activity, but even of the name itself; the reason being, that in our Country, it is a fact that Unia was not given the opportunity to develop any activities analogous to those being developed in countries of Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

It is the essence of Unia (and chiefly the Vatican’s activity), that we shall attempt to elucidate further down. We will not focus as much on the itemizing of events or the analysis thereof; instead, we shall venture a diagnosis from within the events themselves – not only in their contemporaneousness, but also in their presence over Time.  Of course it is necessary to stress that during the period 1920-1940 Unia had preoccupied both public opinion and Justice in Greece. The reader can refer to the relevant bibliography, at the end of this book. However, the present-day resurgence of Unia, front-stage, which happens to coincide with the timing of our Theological Dialogue with the “Roman Catholic Church”, opens up a very interesting prospect, whereby that very Dialogue as well as its expedience can be duly re-evaluated.

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Contents // Part 2