What Have the Modern Saints Said About Extraterrestrials?

Saint Paisios the Athonite

When Saint Paisios was asked whether extraterrestrials exist, he replied:

"You should know that all these things are demonic. They take on various forms. There is no life on another planet. In the last days, do not look at the sky, because you may be deceived by the false signs that will appear there. You will be deceived and led astray."

According to this teaching, any belief in extraterrestrials among Orthodox Christians is unacceptable. Extraterrestrials are demons, fallen angels who have fallen into sin. There is no other civilization. God created this world for mankind.

Saint Porphyrios

One day, some young children, students at a school, approached Saint Porphyrios and asked him whether it was true that extraterrestrials existed.

The Saint answered:

"All these things, you should know, are imaginary and demonic. There is no life on another planet."

Elder Gabriel of Georgia

Speaking about the last days, Saint Gabriel said, among other things:

"In the days of the Antichrist, the world will expect salvation from outer space. This will be the greatest trick of the devil. Humanity will seek help from extraterrestrials, unaware that they are actually demons."

Elder Cleopa Ilie

One night, after midnight, I was in my cave and had finished the Midnight Office when, suddenly, I heard an extremely loud noise.

I thought the whole earth was shaking. I went outside to see what was making that noise. But when I opened the door of my cave, I saw a bright light outside, and within it, a copper-colored vessel with many wheels.

A tall man stepped out of it. He had large eyes and a dark, frightening face. He abruptly asked me:

"What are you looking for here?"

At that moment, I remembered what our Holy Fathers teach us: if you have the Holy Mysteries, you have Christ present with you.

I had Holy Communion kept in a small container inside the hollow trunk of a tree in my cave.

When I saw this demonic apparition, I quickly went inside. I took the Holy Gifts into my hands and prayed:

"Lord Jesus Christ, do not abandon me!"

When I came outside again, I saw the figure moving away through the power of Christ.

Beside my cave there was a deep ravine, into which this unclean spirit fell. But as it reached the edge of the ravine, it turned itself and the vessel around three times. Then it plunged into the ravine with a tremendous crash.

The sound of that crash continued ringing in my ears until the following night, for a full twenty-four hours.

The Church's Warning

The Church warns against UFO cults and New Age ideas that deify extraterrestrial beings and attempt to replace faith in Jesus Christ.