UGCC Head Expresses Condolences on the Passing of Bishop Dimitrios Salahas
His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Head and Father of the UGCC, expressed his condolences to Bishop Emanuel Nin, Exarch of the Apostolic Exarchate in Greece, on the passing of Bishop Dimitrios Salahas. In the letter, the Head of the UGCC described the life of Bishop Dimitrios as “an example of devotion to the Church” and the aptitude for combining scientific and pastoral charisma.
“Over the decades of his academic ministry in various papal universities in Rome, our Church has been enriched by many experts in the field of canon law,” the letter reads. In this area, Bishop Salahas, according to the Head of the UGCC, was an invaluable collaborator of many dicasteries of the Roman Curia, specifically for the Eastern Churches.
“Today, we gratefully commemorate Bishop Dimitrios as a good shepherd for our faithful. Thanks to him, the catechetical mission of the Basilian Sisters was restored in this community, and our priests were always sincerely accepted for their ministry. Our faithful constantly felt the pastoral care of the bishop, who willingly shared with them the moments of various national holidays and cared about the development of Ukrainian culture and the preservation of national identity in emigration,” reads the letter of His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
Last meeting of His Beatitude Sviatoslav with Bishop Dimitrios Salahas, Athens, Greece, September 17, 2023
Emeritus Bishop Dimitrios Salahas died on October 16 in Athens at the age of 84. He was a member of the Theological Commission for Ecumenical Dialogue with the Orthodox Churches and a counselor to various dicasteries of the Roman Curia. He is the author of many scientific works in the field of Eastern canon law. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Exarch of the Apostolic Exarchate in Greece, continuing his cooperation with the dicasteries of the Roman Curia. In 2016, having reached retirement age, he submitted his resignation from the government of the Exarchate.
Secretariat of the Head of the UGCC in Rome
