Authorities evict monks from two properties of Athonite Esphigmenou Monastery in Greece

Greece, July 24, 2020

Photo: ethnos.gr Photo: ethnos.gr     

Greek authorities have begun the confiscation of properties owned by the Athonite monastery of Esphigmenou, evicting a number of monks living at dependencies in Greece.

On July 8, the Greek Supreme Court issued a final order on the legal issue surrounding Esphigmenou Monastery that had dragged on for years through a number of appeals and other delays. The brotherhood of Esphigmenou has been out of communion with the rest of Mt. Athos and all Local Orthodox Churches for decades in protest of the ecumenistic practices of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and other Orthodox Churches.

As the constitution and statutes of the Holy Mountain prohibit monastic cohabitation with the heterodox or schismatics, the Court obliged the brotherhood to finally hand over all the “occupied territories” both on and outside of Mt. Athos to the new Esphigmenou brotherhood founded by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 2005. The new brotherhood lives in Karyes, the capital of Mt. Athos, having no historical connection to Esphigmenou Monastery.

Yesterday, July 23, police officers arrived at the monastery’s dependencies in Ierissos on the peninsula of Chalkidiki, near Mt. Athos, and in Nea Roda, 70 miles southeast of Thessaloniki, and forced the monks to leave, reports ethnos.gr.

The brotherhood of new Esphigmenou issued a statement announcing that it now possesses the properties and contending that the monks of Esphigmenou have nothing to do with Mt. Athos. They also stated that the monks of the schismatic brotherhood “looted the facilities” a few days beforehand, “leaving behind the image of a scorched earth.”

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of Esphigmenou Monastery say that on July 23, “three monks of the new pseudo-brotherhood of Esphigmenou … seized property in Ierissos from the historical Esphigmenou, which numbers 100 monks.”

The monks also state that “the seizure of European and national funds of Mt. Athos, bank accounts, real estate in Athens and Thessaloniki, tractors, vehicles, and everything that was a source of income for our brotherhood (numbering 110 monks), will be able to feed the three modest monks, full of Christian love, of the new pseudo-Esphigmenou,” and, “if that is not enough for them, then just take our souls.”

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7/24/2020

Comments
Spyridon7/26/2020 3:30 pm
Three years ago I visited Mount Athos and was told by a monk that there were many monks who refused to commemorate Bartholomew because of his ecumenicism and uncanonical actions. This was before he joined himself to schismatics in Ukraine - What we see happening in Hagia Sophia may be god's judgement - but even if it is not, how any Greek can still recognise Constantinople as having any authority is beyond me. A terrible situation that will only serve evil.
George Pappas7/26/2020 2:42 pm
Unjust and quite disturbing that monks would be displaced from monastery. Where is the Christian brotherhood?
Joseph7/25/2020 6:32 am
God have mercy on Mount Athos and all of the so called "orthodox Christians" that support the work of P.B. and his wickedness. The fact that you keep quoting "the constitution of Mount Athos" to defend the evil committed by Bartholomew is very disgraceful! You take their money and kick them out of the monastery and expect us to defend or care for the former cathedral in Istanbul being converted back into a mosque? This is an evil and wicked deed committed by Bartholemew and supported by the rest of Mt. Athos.
Maria7/25/2020 5:10 am
I hope Bartholomew finds the monastery scorched to the ground. May the Theotokos save and protect the true orthodox monks of the historic monastery of Esphigmenou. I am disgusted with the injustices these monks have suffered since they stopped commemorating patriarchs who have consistently betrayed the faith.
Eddie7/25/2020 4:24 am
The Phanarite betrayal of Holy Orthodoxy causes these rebellions against +Bartholomew and his boys. Just as God won't help them with St Sophia. Greeks got to stop and repent.
Mrki Vuk7/24/2020 11:03 pm
Now, that is a proper orthodox behaviour towards the living souls. No wonder Hagia Sophia became a mosque...
Alexander Leitner7/24/2020 2:50 pm
Workof Bartholomew...shame n Him!
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