«The Contribution of Ethnic Religions to the formation of European Identity»

European ethnic traditions and religions have largely shaped the character and worldview of Europeans and are the foundation of European culture, which encompasses almost everything, from folk customs and science to art and philosophy.

These traditions are not simply remnants of the past, but a living, powerful, and historically validated framework that has positively and continuously influenced the development of European societies throughout history. At the same time, it is an opportunity for many people to awaken and discover their ethnical cultural uniqueness.

Ethnic religious traditions are more than spiritual belief systems; they serve as a framework for social cohesion, cultural continuity, and collective memory. Through rituals, symbols, and narratives, they create bonds within communities, fostering a sense of belonging and shared identity.

Ethnic religions are the driving force behind the creation of ethnicities, which may speak different languages but describe and interpret the Cosmos with a similar worldview. European ethnic religions are one of the main forces that created our identity and are responsible for the existence and preservation of a European common ethnicity.

Ethnic religions and traditions are guardians, preservers and weavers of intangible cultural heritage, agents of spiritual renewal in modern Europe, and act as a vital catalyst for social cohesion. As they are cultivated and strengthened, they simultaneously revitalize communities by promoting growth in areas such as science, education, and civic engagement.

As historic sources document, after the often-forced replacement of the ethnic religions by monotheisms, several countries have experienced a decline in ethical and spiritual integrity, evolving into systems marked by pervasive corruption and weakened moral foundations. In these societies appearances and material success are often valued more highly than sincerity, honor, and the deeper principles that once guided traditional way of life that stresses authenticity. A revival of ethnic religions could ensure the restoration of this character traditionally embedded in culture and give European spirituality a harmonious, healing and sustainable effect, as the renaissance has proven the change that can occur when traditions emerge in the forefront.

Given Europe’s historical background and in light of the significant changes that will determine its future, it is now more crucial than ever to protect, study, and promote these religions and traditions institutionally, going beyond mere preservation.

In this way, we can draw on their inherent wisdom to address the challenges of our time and ensure a future for Europe that is both rooted in its heritage and dynamics.

WHY DO WE DEFEND ETHNIC RELIGIONS AND TRADITIONS?

-Because they offer each people a unique vision for understanding themselves and interacting with the world.
-Because they integrate humans into the cyclical time of constant re-creation without the fear of death.
-Because they create religious pluralism that is reflected in the world of the Gods and Goddesses as an ethnosphere.
-Because they create the historical continuum of Tradition through which the social condition of Identity is freely expressed, thus allowing the same essence to take on infinite valid forms.
-Because they restore meaning to life through behavioral patterns that strengthen collective life and cultural creation for the benefit of the community.
-Because they open up different ways of approaching the numinous in each different culture, without demanding any kind of ownership for themselves, but respect and accept as equally valid the indigenous narratives that developed effortlessly by interpreting nature with logic.
-Because they are the ones that demand the greatest honor for mortal beings, to approach and revere the sacred, not through self-punishment but through the spiritual elevation provided by mysteries and rituals.
-Because they are the creative force behind the cultural creation known as ethnos. Without them, the ethnos would be reduced just to a random group of atomic individuals, without common content, by the monocracy of globalization and to mere consumers or interchangeable labour force.
-Because they place responsibility, a fundamental element of any justice system, in the place of forgiveness.

From Athens, on October 4, 2025, representatives of 16 organisations from 14 countries are joining forces to declare our respect for traditional European religions.

We recognize the value of our ancestors, as well as the worldview, and traditions they have passed down to us. Our culture and spirituality are inextricably linked to our religions and traditions and must be protected.

We appeal to all European governments and European Union institutions to recognize our religions and grant them the same respect and privileges enjoyed by other recognised religions in European legal systems.

Therefore, we request the following:

1) Full recognition of the ethnic religions and traditions of Europe, acknowledgment of their historical and cultural role in the formation of the ethnos, and establishment of a special legislative framework for specific issues such as the performance of marriages and naming ceremonies with full legal validity.
2) Institutional participation of the ethnic religion’s leadership in official state events, inaugurations and wherever else required.
3) Establishment of a legal framework for the protection of all rituals, customs and the days of celebrations of the ethnic religion associated with major life events: from birth and marriage to end-of-life care (care for the sick/elderly and burial).
4) Establishment of a legislative framework for the unhindered operation of religious organizations (tax breaks, state funding, direct sanctions on individuals or other religious organizations that oppose, slander or defame or turn in any way against the representatives of the ethnic religion).
5) Legislative initiative for the designation of the sacred temples, epiphanic places and/or groves of the ethnic religions as strictly protected religious sites—rather than merely cultural or archaeological sites—including their surrounding environment.
6) Securing the right of ethnic religions to access and use the sacred spaces that fall under state jurisdiction for the performance of religious rites and other activities, with absolute respect and unwavering adherence to regulations.
7) Respect and recognition of sacred languages and traditions as fundamental elements of ethnic identity.
8) Adopt best practices from other nations on recognition and protection.
9) Review of the content of educational textbooks and programs at all levels, to ensure appropriate respect and proper representation of ethnic religions.
10) Ensuring the unhindered right to abstain from religious education classes, without social stigmatization or any obstacle for those who do not wish to attend.
11) Recognition of the sanctity of Nature and adoption of measures to prevent its systematic and deliberate exploitation, including the preservation of sacred sites, forests and venerable heritage trees from cutting or disturbance.
12) Clarify the meaning of traditionality which is embodied and represented only by ethnic religions which are indigenous in their respective countries.
13) As far as to the national law extends, the traditions of ethnic religions must be recognized as part of the local traditional culture.

Member organizations (represented by):

Ύπατο Συμβούλιο των Ελλήνων Εθνικών, Hellas (Κώστας Κεχαγιάς, Γιάννης Μπαντέκας, Ελένη Πετρή, Ελένη Ξάνθη, Αναστάσιος Καρακώστας, Σοφία Βλαχούλη, Αιμιλία Ματθέ, Παναγιώτης Κακκάβας, Νίκη Ρήγα, Δημήτριος Μητσάτσος, Καλλιστώ Τσολομύτη, Χρήστος Γκατζόγλου, Αριστοδίκη Κυριακή Λαμπίρη, Αμφικτύων Ευστάθιος Κεφάλας, Παναγιώτα Διοτίμα Παπουτσή, Δημήτριος Τακτικός, Σοφία Σουλιώτη, Χρήστος Χρήστου, Ιωάννης Κοσμόγιαννης, Πέτρος Νικολάου, Δημήτριος Παππάς, Βασίλειος Κατσιούπας)
Associazione Tradizionale Pietas, Italy (Giuseppe Barbera, Mattia Zaniboni, Filippo Cavatore, Lorenzo Facciuoli, Anselmo Perrotta, Yuri Gavriliouk)
Groupe Druidique des Gaules, France (Jean Lionel Mamquat, Jean MarcDuvette, ValérieParrat, Alexandra di Genova di Salle)
Latvijas Dievturu sadraudze, Latvia (Uģis Nastevičs, Eva Mārtuža, Andrejs Broks, Daina Kazāka)
Об`єднання рідновірів України, Ukraine (Лозко Галина Сергіївна, Дериведмідь Володимир Дмитрович)
Senovės baltų religinė bendrija Romuva, Lithuania (Ugnė Trinkūnaitė, Benas Barzdžius)
Sjamanistisk Forbund, Norway (Kyrre Gram Franck, Gro Hilseth Adriansdatter)
Slované, Czech Republic (Giuseppe Maiello)
Werkgroep Traditie Vzw, Belgium (KoenraadLogghe, Thomas Slembrouck, Brenda Lioris, Jorres De Vriendt)
Związek Wyznaniowy Rodzima Wiara, Poland (Judyta Król, Piotr Brzeziński)
Ύπατο Συμβούλιο των Ελλήνων Εθνικών Κύπρου, Cyprus (Γιώργος Κωνσταντίνου, Ευδοκία Ιωάννου)

Observer organizations (represented by):

Forn Sed Norge, Norway (Ingvild Linéa Bråthen, Audun Mehl)
Forn Siðr, Denmark (Camilla Winther Bang, Monika Ylfa Steensdatter)
Kredenn Geltiek, France (Erwan Le Bars)
Mythology Corner, United States (Ghanasyam Akella)
Rodný kruh, Slovak republic, Kokava nad Rimavicou (Rodan Švický, Miroslav Žiarislav Švický, Rastislav Štefanák)
Θύρσος – Οίκος Ελλήνων Εθνικών, Hellas (Ευάγγελος Κιούσης, Γιώργος Δημόπουλος)

This Declaration is also supported by individuals:

Nephelie Skarlatos, Hellas, scholar
Stian Sundell Torjussen, Associate Professor, University of Inland Norway, Hamar
Rasa Pranskevičiūtė-Amoson, Associate Professor, Vilnius University, Lithuania
Φωτίου Ευγενία, Associate Professor, University of Crete, Hellas
Σμαροπούλου Μαριλένα, Hellas
Paul Zurkinden, Switzerland
Antoine Teyssier, France
Ευθύμιος Κανιώρης, Hellas