In a statement issued by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Archbishop Makarios has condemned the military action taken by Russia against Ukraine and labelled it “an unprovoked attack” and an “unacceptable decision”.

Archbishop Makarios “expressed his utter condemnation of Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine, the violation of the territorial integrity of a sovereign country, and the provocation of disasters and unspeakable suffering to the detriment of its people,” the opening lines of the announcement read.

Developments have been unfolding rapidly in the conflict, with around 150,000 having already fled the country according to the UNHCR.

Meanwhile, while the death toll is hard to establish, official numbers are in the hundreds.

Civilian casualties also include children and at least ten members of the Greek diaspora have died in eastern Ukraine.

READ MORE: ‘Pray for us’: Casualties of Greek ethnics in Ukraine rise to 10

“In a time of peace, children bury their father. In times of war, the father buries his children,” Archbishop Makarios noted in a highly emotional message.

“In the last hours, we are watching with indescribable sadness the horrible face of the war, as reflected in the frightened eyes of our innocent fellow humans, due to the unacceptable decision of the leadership of the Russian Federation to invade the territory of the Republic of Ukraine with military means. Inevitably, the horror of war is accompanied by a heavy blood tax.

“This is not the world that Christ envisioned for the human race! This is not the teaching of our holy Gospels! The pursuit of war in our faith and conscience does not fit! It is the duty of every Orthodox Christian to bleed for peace!”

Ahead of his pastoral visit to Adelaide this weekend, the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Australia the Archbishop had a phone conversation with the Honorary Consul General of Ukraine in Sydney, Jaroslav Roman Duma to express his support to the afflicted Ukrainian people and wishes for peace to prevail.

In solidarity with the people of Ukraine, Australia’s faithful were asked to join their prayers with those of the Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and all Ukraine.

During his pastoral visit to the South Australian capital on Sunday, Archbishop Makarios presided over the Orthros and the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, in Port Adelaide.