Athos, December 27, 2023
Photo: vimaorthodoxias.gr
The abbots and brotherhoods of five Athonite monasteries, as well as the abbots and abbesses and their brotherhoods and sisterhoods of dozens of monasteries in Greece issued a statement on the mandatory electronic IDs recently introduced in Greece yesterday.
The abbots of Xeropotamou, Dochariou, Karakallou, Philotheou, and Konstamanitou monasteries on Athos, as well as the elder and eldresses of 36 monasteries in Greece call for the state to abolish the mandatory nature of the new IDs, because “we do not wish to assist in imposing any tyrannical power in the least.”
The monastics also warn that the “immense power of digital information” will be used to “establish a global totalitarian system” that will be used “to impose [the] global domination” of the prophesied Antichrist.
“We undoubtedly live in apocalyptic times,” the monastics write. “Therefore, let us not be complacent. Let us acquire the ‘good anxiety’ about what is happening around us.”
And they urge:
Our times require us to live our Christian identity dynamically and authentically, with spiritual vigilance, repentance, and prayer, so that we may acquire the “mind of Christ,” to be able to discern the signs of the times and the way in which we must act. Let us cultivate the martyric and ascetic mindset of our Church. Let us learn to use electronic means with moderation, prudence, and discrimination. And finally, let us be prepared to sacrifice, when necessary, not only the comforts of the digital world, but even our own lives, in order to confess our faithfulness to the Triune God.
Read the full statement:
The modern achievements in the field of digital technology reveal the greatness of man, but at the same time, they also demonstrate his tragedy, when, having become autonomous from God, he abuses them and does not use them for his good but for his self-destruction. We know that in our days, the international political scene is shaped by the global markets, without the consent of the people. And we also know that these markets are not based on ethical values or principles, but only on economic interests or other pursuits.
Therefore, there are many citizens who are justifiably concerned that the immense power of digital information will be used in the future to restrict their personal freedoms, to suffocate control of their private lives, and to gradually establish a global totalitarian system. Such a tyrannical system will someday be used as infrastructure by the expected—according to the prophecy of Revelation—Antichrist, in order to impose his global domination.
Because freedom is a supreme and non-negotiable good, because democratic values are fundamental elements of a healthy society, and because, finally, we do not wish to assist in imposing any tyrannical power in the least, we declare, as humble monks of the Holy Church of Christ and as free Greek citizens, that we disagree and are opposed to the mandatory nature of the electronic identity/card and Personal Number and we ask that they be made optional. Also, we disagree with the methodical abolition of cash and the evolving unification of databases concerning the personal data of Greek citizens. All these interconnected factors—abolition of cash, unified databases, Personal Number, electronic identity/card— inevitably lead to the complete control of citizens’ economic and social activities.
The state, faithful to the principles of democracy and the rule of law and respecting the freedom of all citizens without exception, must always maintain alternative means of identification and access to services or goods. In any case, it must also effectively protect citizens from the misuse of digital information, essentially ensuring their privacy and all their individual rights and freedoms.
In this light, we hope that the Greek government will listen to our legitimate concerns, as expressed in this text, will hear us and will not proceed to limit our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms with the imminent issuance of the Presidential Decree for the Personal Number. On the contrary, we want to believe that with a democratic disposition, it will make the necessary legal-technical corrective moves, so that our substantiated positions are respected. In the unlikely case that our positions are ignored in the issued Presidential Decree, we will return with a new announcement-statement, in which we will describe our further stance, founded on the rights provided by the constitution of our homeland to every Greek citizen.
Finally, we advise our faithful brothers who struggle in the world not to rush to receive the new identities and Personal Number, but to exhaust all available timeframes. At the same time, let them protest with every suitable and legal means, with coordinated movements and interventions, to make them optional.
Moreover, in terms of proving their identity, let them use the conventional means of identification, avoiding the corresponding digital ones (e.g. smart applications like Gov.gr Wallet), knowing that the following apply:
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According to the provisions of Law 3731/2008 (art. 25), services, for the processing of administrative procedures, are obliged to accept as a means of identification both the passport and the driving license.
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According to a decision of the Council of State (1602/2021, Section D), even if 15 years have passed since the issuance of the old identity card, it is considered a valid document and the competent services are obliged to accept it, as long as there is no reasonable doubt about its authenticity.
We undoubtedly live in apocalyptic times. Therefore, let us not be complacent. Let us acquire the “good anxiety” about what is happening around us. Behind the promised conveniences of modern digital society lie the bonds of an unfree system. Is there any benefit capable of offsetting the loss of freedom, for which rivers of blood have been shed in our blessed homeland?
Our times require us to live our Christian identity dynamically and authentically, with spiritual vigilance, repentance, and prayer, so that we may acquire the “mind of Christ,” to be able to discern the signs of the times and the way in which we must act. Let us cultivate the martyric and ascetic mindset of our Church. Let us learn to use electronic means with moderation, prudence, and discrimination. And finally, let us be prepared to sacrifice, when necessary, not only the comforts of the digital world, but even our own lives, in order to confess our faithfulness to the Triune God.
The life of the entire world and each person separately is in the hands of God. He Who daily cares for the birds of the sky and the lilies of the field, does not cease to lovingly cover with His good providence all His children. He, it is certain, that even in the present circumstance and in every other forthcoming difficulty will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Cor. 10:13).
Electronic identification cards have been a volatile issue in Greece for decades. Holy elders such as St. Paisios have warned about them, and the clergy and the people have rallied against them a number of times over the years, including several rallies leading up to the roll-out of the new IDs this month.
Two dozen Orthodox missionary and academic associations signed a text protesting the government’s plan for this month; hierarchs have taken various stances, with some counseling vigilance against the possibility of something nefarious, while others have simply said Christians should wait and see what the Synod will say.
In its statement in September, the Synod mainly addressed the question of the legality of the new IDs, saying that is a matter entirely for the state to handle, while nothing that the hierarchs will further address all the ramifications of the new IDs at a later date.
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