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Mount Athos' Special Status Under Scrutiny

STRASBOURG, France, SEPT. 9, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The European Parliament is considering revising the centuries-old special status enjoyed by the monastic community of Mount Athos in Greece.

The Parliament's plenary session approved a report giving the green light for the revision of the status of the peninsula of northern Greece inhabited solely by monks.

The Greek Orthodox Church, in its latest Ecclesia Report, announced that "the plenary session of the Euro-Parliament passed a proposal-report prepared by French Euro-deputy Fode Sylla concerning the EU Fundamental Rights situation for 2002, which includes, among others, a reference to the special status enjoyed by the monastic community of Mount Athos, in northern Greece."

According to the Euro-deputies, the controversial point is that the isles of Athos do not allow entry to women. The Euro-deputies see this prohibition as an infringement on women's human rights, so they asked the Greek government to revise the prohibition.

The Sylla report received only negative votes by the deputies of the Greek Socialist government. If the proposal goes forward, it might face a second vote.

The Greek government and the Orthodox Church defend the situation of the status of the monastic community because of its 1,000-year link with the country's traditions, values, symbols and religious faith.

Code: ZE03090906
Date: 2003-09-09

I bet if they were Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists, they wouldn't make any such demands. Being Christians, they are easy and favorite targets.

The Athonites should declare themselves a non-European nation. Heck! They participate in another world anyway.

I think the European community(?) really wants to rid itself of its Christian past, whether it be Catholic or Orthodox, and will do anything to disenfranchise any form of Christian institution.

Will women's monastic communities have to permit men to live there too?

The East and West should stop arguing with each other and start addressing the warriors outside the gates who want nothing else to do than to shake down Christianity.

Remember the fall of Constantinople!!!

Joe

I think this is one problem with not having a concept of private property and property rights. If you can view Mount Athos as the private property of the monasteries and the monks, then you have no problem accepting that they have the right to discriminate. Simple, easy.

But many people can't view it that way...

Dave

Joe,

I wish I had an intelligent comment to make, but I do have an enthuiastic one.

Amen!!!

Dan Lauffer

Dave, that is an excellent point with respect to private land ownership/control, and I hope the monks defend their position from that perspective. I don't think the monks are too worried about sanctions...they have fish, their own olives, grapes and vegetables.

What's next, is the EU going to inflict allegations of human rights violations on Vatican City since it is an independent state dominated by male clergy?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Diak:

"What's next, is the EU going to inflict allegations of human rights violations on Vatican City since it is an independent state dominated by male clergy?"

But the Vatican City is not a member of the EU, Greece on the other side is...

Christian

Joe,
We are in agreement. The Monks of Athos just need to declare themselves and independant non Eu country and that will be the end of it.
Case closed.

Stephanos I

PS I am also in agreement that the East and the West should gang up and prevent this anti God and irreligious faction from withing the EU from dictating to the Churches or individual governments.

Brothers and sisters:

I am exhausted and my brain is somewhere between work and home. So before anyone starts a firestorm, remember that this is coming from delirium:

Why don't the monks ask the Vatican City State to annex them and negotiate some form of autonomous, self-governing (federal?) region with the Vatican?

In Christ,

BOB

They can probably do it on their own and probably would want to. They would be the first to remind us that nothing remains autonomous and self-governing after negotiating annexation with the Vatican. Just mentioning 'sui juris' will probably send them laughing to tears or scare the beejeepers out of them. It just won't happen. Nice try though.

I believe one complication is that they've been declared as a UN World Heritage Site (http://whc.unesco.org/sites/454.htm) and have accepted money for repairs from the UN and the EU. A friend of mine who just visited the Holy Mountain in May said that there are construction crews everywhere and constant repairs.

If you take their money, they may start making demands...

Dave

The bottom line is society as a whole does not understand nor do they want to know or acknowledge what the prayers of the monks on Mt. Athos, Valeem, and these other places do to help everyone.

It could very well be that Greece would be in a horrible state without those monks interceding for them. I mean why should just try to destroy the churches on the mainland too, go for the gusto must be how they are thinking. And there was a discussion about the protestants wanting to evangelize Greece. I tend to think those monks are the ones who have kept the faith alive.

But you know that island is under the protection of the Theotokos after all she asked for it as she and St.John were traveling. So nothing is going to happen to it.

Rose

Good thinking Rose...
After all...the Island actually belongs to a Woman so there is no violation of 'human rights'

Vie

Chtec,
Maybe they should follow St Peter and tell the UN and Eu " May you and your money rot"
Stephanos I
Or did he say "go to hell" ?I forget.

If the EU and UN had no strings attached BEFORE the Athonites received their money, then making demands AFTER the handouts is quite sleezy. I'm sure that if they knew that "requests" would be made that they cannot fulfill, then their willingness to receive the money would be a different story.

Streetsharks are fairer than that. At least you know up front what is expected of you from receiving money.

Anything out there that gives specifics on the handout to the Athonites?

Joe

There is one thing that has always stuck in my mind since I was very young--about monks and monasticism.

My grandfather used to tell me that when the monks stop praying that will be the end of the world. Let's hope that the Holy Mother of God hears these monks and spreads her Protecting Veil over them.

As far as "sleazy" goes, did you ever know of an involvement with government money that didn't eventually turn that way?

In Christ,

BOB