Persecution of Mount Athos' Esphigmenou Monastery by the EP

[Priest Siluan]

From: Fr. Panagiotes Carras frpanagiotes@yahoo.ca
To: Orthodox Info Egroup OrthodoxInfo@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, March 11, 2011 1:39:49 PM
Subject: [OrthodoxInfo] PERSECUTION OF ESPHIGMENOU MONASTERY

Yesterday Greek police stationed on Mount Athos arrested Fr. Gregory of Esphigmenou Monastery. He was then removed from Mount Athos. Fr. Gregory is one of the leading fathers of Esphigmenou Monastery.

He is the editor of the Monastery's bi-monthly publication, Boanerges (Sons of Thunders; Mark 3:17 ) that is read by True Orthodox Christians throughout the world. Boanerges is the best periodical published by the True Orthodox and the arrest of Fr. Gregory is an attempt to sever the bond that True Orthodox Christians all over the world have with the Monastery.

This violation of the basic human rights of the 107 fathers of the Monastery is perpetrated by the Greek Government on behalf of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The voice of the Esphigmenou fathers which boldly proclaims the Orthodox Faith becomes louder with each attack against the Monastery. Please keep all the fathers in your prayers.

In Christ,
+Fr. Panagiotes

[Priest Siluan]

Expulsion of an Esphigmenou Monk outside of the Mount Athos

The expulsion outside of Mount Athos of Priest-monk Father Gregory from the Holy Esphigmenou Monastery by the Coast Authority in Daphne, Holy Mountain took place on Thursday 03/10/2011 (new calendar). Until when will the monks of the Genuine Holy Esphigmenou Monastery be treated as common criminals according to the penal code? Violations of the basic human rights are violated every day in Mount Athos in connivance with the State and for the precision the prosecutory authorities of the country with zeal perpetuate and make gigantic this persecution. What is the benefit of the State, at the same hour where the criminal complaint of the Holy Esphigmenou Monastery «stays in the drawer» and the Port Authority and the Mount Athos Police works inhumanly against the 107 monks who still today can neither have access to food nor medicine, nor care to nor have contact with the outside world. They have directed the perfect crime, a crime without witnesses. The monks of Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou are not criminals but the victims of intentions and the prosecutory authorities ought to do, knowing the truth to show leniency. How much more our monks have to endure? The Priestly love remained in words as the hatred and revenge became action. Why the same things the Phanar (Ecumenical Patriarchate) reports to the Turkish State it does the same acts against Christian Brothers in Greece via the Holy Community of Mount Athos and the Greek State? At least the State ought to respect the human rights which are violated by the prosecutory authorities at the first opportunity. We do not ask for mercy but justice. They took from us the name that we had for 15 centuries. They took from us the name and have exploited the financial assets the Monastery had. They banned us from the minimum for survival and basic freedoms. They arbitrarily dubbed us heretics and squatters because it suited them to throw us off Mount Athos and all these things because we remind the Ecumenical Patriarch the Holy Canons of the Church and the Fathers of Orthodoxy, at the same time he insists on forgetting for political grounds. As much as they fight us, with whatever means and they attempt to, the Genuine Holy Esphigmenou Monastery does not consent to the deduction of the faith for us it is and remains to be the dilemma ... ORTHODOXY OR DEATH.

Sincerely,

Press Office of the Holy Esphigmenou Monastery

Mount Athos

[Priest Siluan]

Esphigmenou: Abbot and 13 monks sentenced to prison

(romfea.gr) Today, April 6, 2011 a three-member Court of Appeal of Thessaloniki, by unanimous decision, condemned fourteen leaders of the occupation of Holy Esphigmenou led by their leader, Methodius (Matthew Papalamprakopoulo).

During the hearing of the present occupiers have indicated stubbornly refusing to obey the decisions of the Greek court.

The Court particularly considering the negative effect of non-compliance in the decisions of the State Council, imposed six months imprisonment for "illegal occupation of the monastery", which proves once again that there remain a criminal offense.

In parallel with this decision and once again, validated the decision of the Holy Community of Mount Athos for the deportation and promoted strongly the obligation of the Greek state for immediate implementation.

http://news-nftu.blogspot.com/2011/04/e ... .html#more

[Priest Siluan]

----- Original Message -----
From: Fr. Panagiotes Carras
To: Orthodox Info Egroup
Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2011 5:49 PM
Subject: [OrthodoxInfo] Esphigmenou Criminal Sentence

We have been informed that on Thursday, April 7th, Father Methodios, the Abbot of the Esphigmenou Monastery, and twelve other fathers were sentenced to six months, suspended to three years. They were previously found guilty of "disturbing the peace"

Please keep them in your prayers. Their persecution is an attempt to silence the loudest Orthodox voice in Greece.

In Christ,
+Fr. Panagiotes

[CBGardner]

Esphigmenou: Abbot and 13 monks sentenced to prison

(romfea.gr) Today, April 6, 2011 a three-member Court of Appeal of Thessaloniki, by unanimous decision, condemned fourteen leaders of the occupation of Holy Esphigmenou led by their leader, Methodius (Matthew Papalamprakopoulo).

During the hearing of the present occupiers have indicated stubbornly refusing to obey the decisions of the Greek court.

The Court particularly considering the negative effect of non-compliance in the decisions of the State Council, imposed six months imprisonment for "illegal occupation of the monastery", which proves once again that there remain a criminal offense.

In parallel with this decision and once again, validated the decision of the Holy Community of Mount Athos for the deportation and promoted strongly the obligation of the Greek state for immediate implementation.

http://news-nftu.blogspot.com/2011/04/e ... .html#more

Wait are these the imitators that have been found guilty or the true faithful?

[Priest Siluan]

Esphigmenou: Abbot and 13 monks sentenced to prison

(romfea.gr) Today, April 6, 2011 a three-member Court of Appeal of Thessaloniki, by unanimous decision, condemned fourteen leaders of the occupation of Holy Esphigmenou led by their leader, Methodius (Matthew Papalamprakopoulo).

During the hearing of the present occupiers have indicated stubbornly refusing to obey the decisions of the Greek court.

The Court particularly considering the negative effect of non-compliance in the decisions of the State Council, imposed six months imprisonment for "illegal occupation of the monastery", which proves once again that there remain a criminal offense.

In parallel with this decision and once again, validated the decision of the Holy Community of Mount Athos for the deportation and promoted strongly the obligation of the Greek state for immediate implementation.

http://news-nftu.blogspot.com/2011/04/e ... .html#more

Wait are these the imitators that have been found guilty or the true faithful?

Sadly, they are the Zelote and True Orthodox Monks. The whole matter is so because this source is from the Ecumenist.

[CBGardner]

Esphigmenou: Abbot and 13 monks sentenced to prison

(romfea.gr) Today, April 6, 2011 a three-member Court of Appeal of Thessaloniki, by unanimous decision, condemned fourteen leaders of the occupation of Holy Esphigmenou led by their leader, Methodius (Matthew Papalamprakopoulo).

During the hearing of the present occupiers have indicated stubbornly refusing to obey the decisions of the Greek court.

The Court particularly considering the negative effect of non-compliance in the decisions of the State Council, imposed six months imprisonment for "illegal occupation of the monastery", which proves once again that there remain a criminal offense.

In parallel with this decision and once again, validated the decision of the Holy Community of Mount Athos for the deportation and promoted strongly the obligation of the Greek state for immediate implementation.

http://news-nftu.blogspot.com/2011/04/e ... .html#more

Wait are these the imitators that have been found guilty or the true faithful?

Sadly, they are the Zelote and True Orthodox Monks. The whole matter is so because this source is from the Ecumenist.

That is too bad. I was about to shout for joy when I read "the occupation", thinking it meant the true occupiers.