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The recent announcement by Turkey for the closure of the Dardanelles and Bosphorus to warships during the Russia - Ukraine conflict has sparked interest in end-of -world prophecies and in particular those of Greek Orthodox Saint Paisios who lived and died in the 20th century.
His name came up in Greek news again and social media sites, when the owner of Panathinaikos soccer club, Dimitris Giannakopoulos published a photo of Saint Paisios, along with a prophecy about the third world war! "When the Turks close the straits, World War III will come," he wrote referencing a direct quote from Saint Paisios.The extra ordinary claim from such a public figure took many by surprise but for others perhaps waiting for Greece to regain some past Byzantine glory on the way to the end of the world, it was a welcoming announcement.
Following a cabinet meeting held on 28 February evening, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, has warned all countries (whether bordering the Black Sea or not) not to send warships via the straits to the Black Sea during the Russia-Ukraine war. He emphasized that no such attempt has occurred thus far.
“When Turkey is not a belligerent in the conflict, it has the authority to restrict the passage of the warring states’ warships across the straits. If the warship is returning to its base in the Black Sea, the passage is not closed. We adhere to the Montreux rules. All governments, riparian and non-riparian, were warned not to send warships across the straits.” said Mevlut Cavusoglu, Foreign Minister of Turkey.
The following prophecy, attributed to Saint Paisios, however is concerned with a 'Russian-Turkish' conflict but does reference the closure of the straits:
"After the challenge of the Turks, the Russians will descend to the Straits. Not to help us. They will have other interests. But, without wanting to, they will help us. Then, in order to defend the Straits, which are of strategic importance, the Turks will gather other troops there. At the same time, they will withdraw forces from occupied territories.
But then the other European countries, namely Britain, France, Italy and six or seven other EU countries, will see that Russia will seize parts, so they will say: Perhaps we should go over there too, and get a piece for ourselves. Everyone, however, will chase the lion's portion. This is how the Europeans will enter the war…The (Greek) government will decide not to send an army into Turkey. It will keep an army only at the border. And it will be a great blessing that he will not take part. "
