Persecution of Mount Athos' Esphigmenou Monastery by the EP

News about traditional Orthodox monastics and how these monks and nuns are living out their vocations in monasteries and convents. All Forum Rules apply. No polemics. No heated discussions. No name-calling.

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What is your belief concerning the monks

  1. They are defenders of Orthodoxy
52
74%
  1. Don't know if the are correct - but they are being ill-treated
13
19%
  1. They are incorrect and are being ill-treated
3
4%
  1. They are incorrect and are being treated as they deserve
2
3%
 
Total votes: 70

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Maria
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Re: Persecution of Mount Athos' Esphigmenou Monastery by the EP

Post by Maria »

Has there been any update?

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.

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Jean-Serge
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Re: Persecution of Mount Athos' Esphigmenou Monastery by the

Post by Jean-Serge »

According to the website www.esphigmenou.com, the police is back around the monastery :

UPDATE: September 24, 2012

URGENT PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ARMED GREEK POLICE PLAN TO FORCIBLY REMOVE PEACEFUL MONKS

MOUNT ATHOS, GREECE, September 24, 2012 – Today under the leadership of foreign minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, the Greek government deployed armed police in full riot gear to forcibly remove the monks of the Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou from their monastery home. The special riot police MAT and EKAM, which have been used against violent protesters in downtown Athens have now, unbelievably, been deployed to the peaceful monastic community of Mount Athos in northern Greece to assault peaceful and defenseless monks.

The government has authorized the use of force to resolve a religious dispute after failing to starve the monks into leaving their monastery during a decade-long blockade. In this time, they have denied the monks deliveries of food, medicine, heating oil, and access to medical attention while simultaneously subjecting them to a non-stop campaign of official harassment and intimidation.

This waste of taxpayer dollars has continued unabated during the financial crisis that has rocked Greece and the rest of the European Union and crippled social services to the poor in Greece. Under the Greek Constitution, the Greek foreign minister is responsible for the administration of government on Mt. Athos and has ultimate authority on the orders to use armed police there.

The monks have repeatedly requested dialogue with the Greek government as well as Patriarch Bartholomew of Istanbul to resolve this dispute. The Patriarch has refused to aid in the peaceful reconciliation of this dispute and has encouraged the government to take action against the monks.

The expressed plan of the government is to forcibly remove the peaceful and defenseless monks and their long-standing Abbot Methodios from their monastery, and replace them with those who pray in accordance with the dictates of the Greek government.

Mount Athos is the autonomous spiritual center of The Orthodox Church, where the monks are considered defenders of the faith. The Esphigmenou Monastery established in the first millennium, is where the great St. Gregory Palamas was abbot, and where St. Anthony left for Russia to establish Orthodox monasticism. Its remoteness and rugged natural beauty attracts pilgrims and tourists alike, who come to see the art and architecture of the Byzantine Empire.

For over a thousand years the monastery has provided a place of prayer and peace for those who chose the monastic life. It is now threatened with extinction

.

Priidite, poklonimsja i pripadem ko Hristu.

Archimandrit Nilos
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Re: Persecution of Mount Athos' Esphigmenou Monastery by the

Post by Archimandrit Nilos »

They are Akakian-Florinites (with Kallinikos Sarantopoulos, formerly with Chrysostom Kioussi), nor less nor more. Everybody can himself form a judgement about these monks from Esphigmenou.

jgress
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Re: Persecution of Mount Athos' Esphigmenou Monastery by the

Post by jgress »

No intra-TOC polemics here, Fr Nilos. Ban for a day.

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Maria
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Re: Persecution of Mount Athos' Esphigmenou Monastery by the

Post by Maria »

Jean-Serge wrote:

According to the website http://www.esphigmenou.com, the police is back around the monastery :

UPDATE: September 24, 2012

URGENT PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ARMED GREEK POLICE PLAN TO FORCIBLY REMOVE PEACEFUL MONKS

MOUNT ATHOS, GREECE, September 24, 2012 – Today under the leadership of foreign minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, the Greek government deployed armed police in full riot gear to forcibly remove the monks of the Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou from their monastery home. The special riot police MAT and EKAM, which have been used against violent protesters in downtown Athens have now, unbelievably, been deployed to the peaceful monastic community of Mount Athos in northern Greece to assault peaceful and defenseless monks.

The government has authorized the use of force to resolve a religious dispute after failing to starve the monks into leaving their monastery during a decade-long blockade. In this time, they have denied the monks deliveries of food, medicine, heating oil, and access to medical attention while simultaneously subjecting them to a non-stop campaign of official harassment and intimidation.

This waste of taxpayer dollars has continued unabated during the financial crisis that has rocked Greece and the rest of the European Union and crippled social services to the poor in Greece. Under the Greek Constitution, the Greek foreign minister is responsible for the administration of government on Mt. Athos and has ultimate authority on the orders to use armed police there.

The monks have repeatedly requested dialogue with the Greek government as well as Patriarch Bartholomew of Istanbul to resolve this dispute. The Patriarch has refused to aid in the peaceful reconciliation of this dispute and has encouraged the government to take action against the monks.

The expressed plan of the government is to forcibly remove the peaceful and defenseless monks and their long-standing Abbot Methodios from their monastery, and replace them with those who pray in accordance with the dictates of the Greek government.

Mount Athos is the autonomous spiritual center of The Orthodox Church, where the monks are considered defenders of the faith. The Esphigmenou Monastery established in the first millennium, is where the great St. Gregory Palamas was abbot, and where St. Anthony left for Russia to establish Orthodox monasticism. Its remoteness and rugged natural beauty attracts pilgrims and tourists alike, who come to see the art and architecture of the Byzantine Empire.

For over a thousand years the monastery has provided a place of prayer and peace for those who chose the monastic life. It is now threatened with extinction

.

Lord have mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.

Matthew
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Re: Persecution of Mount Athos' Esphigmenou Monastery by the

Post by Matthew »

May God preserve the presence of True Orthodox monastics on the Holy Mountain, the Garden of the Panhagia, until the end of time. I think they will try harder and harder to expel all True Orthodox zealot fathers while they have the cover of other news dominating the media, like food riots, economic crisis, and the threat of war with Iran. This is the time when they figure they can sneak it through and not expose themselves to much international opposition or embarrassment. God protect the the Holy Fathers of Athos. Holy Theotokos, SAVE!

Symeon

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Maria
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Re: Persecution of Mount Athos' Esphigmenou Monastery by the

Post by Maria »

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.

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