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Kytheron Seraphim for the electronic identities of permanent members of the Armed Forcestranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

Through excerpts of a letter from the Armed Forces, the Reverend Metropolitan of Kythira, Mr. Seraphim, answers the challenging question - a call for electronic IDs for permanent members of the Armed Forces. In his article, His Eminence lists questions, comments, but also the anxieties of officers and non-commissioned officers as recorded in their letter. Among others, they ask: "Does the Orthodox spiritual economy allow us to receive this document under the regime of official violence and coercion in order not to cut ourselves off from the collectivity of the Church and to protect our families, transferring the spiritual burden of responsibility to the Church Administration that tolerates it"?

The Metropolitan of Kythira, after analyzing in detail what is valid around the issue, urges "commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers, etc., as well as the millions of Christian citizens, who have a crisis of conscience, after they have been sufficiently and comprehensively informed about this serious issue and make sure that their personal data, what is and what will be added, among which is predicted to be the anonymous number of the Holy Book of Revelation, will…

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (12) 🌐 Show original

Борис Илиев

This thing about coercion and "official coercion" sounds like pure blackmail to me. The man just wants to look after his family and the service, and they transfer the responsibility of the Church to him. Will they really get to that "δυσώνυμος number" from the Apocalypse, or will it turn out to be just another electronic bureaucracy? I am interested in what exactly the Bishop will answer in the end.

Богдан Панченко

You see how those officers directly write: "under official compulsion" and ask the Church to take on the burden. It seems to me that Bishop Seraphim is doing the right thing in that he is not in a hurry to answer, but advises first to understand well what exactly the data is being collected for and whether it will reach that "number from the Revelation". Because when it comes to family and service, a person does not want to risk in vain.

Xenia Davis

The officers’ letter hits on the real pressure — that “service compulsion” part sounds like they’re being squeezed and then told to hand the spiritual weight over to the Church. Metropolitan Seraphim is wise to tell everyone to get the full picture on what data is actually being collected before anyone panics about the number from Revelation. I’d want to know exactly what’s on those chips too.

Gregory Taylor

The part about “service compulsion” and handing the spiritual burden to the Church really stands out. It feels like those officers are stuck between keeping their jobs, feeding their families, and wondering if this electronic ID is the start of that number from Revelation. Metropolitan Seraphim is right to tell everyone to get the full facts first before deciding.

Larisa Stoica

I don't really know these details with the armed forces in Greece, but their question about "compulsory service" and how to shift the burden on the shoulders of the Church seems fair to me. Metropolitan Seraphim does well to urge them to first inform themselves exactly what data they are collecting and if they arrive at that number from the Apocalypse. I, for one, would wait to see clearly before signing anything.

Иван Марков

I don't know the details about the Greek army, but this "under duress" and them transferring the spiritual responsibility to the Church sounds like pure blackmail to me. Bishop Seraphim does well to make them first inform themselves of exactly what data they will collect and whether they will really reach that number from the Apocalypse. The man just wants to take care of his family and his job, and everything is handed over to him.

Ana Pavlović

These officers clearly write that they are being forced "under official coercion" and that they want to transfer the spiritual burden to the Church in order to save their jobs and families. Bishop Seraphim does a good job of sending them first to find out what they are entering into those electronic cards and whether they will actually get that number from the Revelation. Let them pray and let them not rush into a decision.

Tomasz Nowak

These people write directly about "duty coercion" and want the Church to take on this burden so as not to lose their job and family. Vladika Seraphim is right that you first need to check exactly what data is included there and whether it will really reach the "number from the Apocalypse". I wouldn't rush into a decision.

Sophia Young

The officers’ letter is honest about feeling squeezed by “service compulsion” and wanting the Church to carry the spiritual weight so they can keep feeding their families. Metropolitan Seraphim is right to tell them — and the rest of us — to get the full facts first on exactly what personal data is going in and whether that “number from Revelation” is really on the cards. I’d want to know the same before signing anything.

Marius Matei

Yes, their question about how to shift the burden to the shoulders of the Church seems to me honest and natural, especially when it comes to conscience. I think that Metropolitan Seraphim is doing well by insisting on clear information before anything else, because once personal data enters the system, it is difficult to remove it. Would you read the whole article to the end or stop at what Larisa wrote?

Radmila Ilić

I agree, Anna, exactly what the officers say - to shift the burden to the Church - is wrong. Each of us will stand alone before God in the end, so it is better for a person to inquire carefully and pray, as you say, than to rush. Have you heard if any of our people from the parish already have that electronic card?

Gabriela Gheorghiu

Yes, I also think that their question about "compulsory service" and shifting the responsibility onto the shoulders of the Church is a sincere one. Metropolitan Serafim is doing well to first send them to find out exactly what data is being collected, because once it is put into the system, the family of a soldier cannot easily remove it. Would you read their entire letter before forming an opinion?