www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Patr. of Constantinople wages war against rebel Athonian monks

So my question is this. When it comes down to it, what union do you really seek? Do you seek one in truth? Or do you simply want people to accept your beliefs as their own?

Pharisees? Schismatics? What is next, the decision that we simply don't know what is best for ourselves so you will step in?

And squatters? Monastics who have spent their whole life in the monastery are squatters?

Again, pray for the monks. They are persecuted and slandered.

Huh? Aren't monastics on Mt. Athos supposed to commemorate the Ecumenical Patriarch?

If the monks truly want the peace of Jesus and monastic life and feel they are persecuted, why not leave and inhabit another secluded monastery somewhere in Greece? There are many historic and empty beautiful monasteries with the same beauty and quiet surrounding them that they could go to in Greece.

While what they are going through may or may not be right, there are always solutions. If a person needs to leave his or her house for some reason like bad neighbors, it may not be right for him to have to resort to moving, but if it will give them peace, then in humility they might do it.

I know of someone who had the rights of a translation for an Orthodox religious book, in writing by the author. He gave money for the entire publication to be done at an Orthodox theological school press.

After the author passed away, the author's son wanted the rights to publish, claiming his father was senile when he gave the rights to the translator (which was not at all true). Even his lawyer said that he was wrong in all his arguments and that he had advised him to stop and let it go. However, the author's son was riled with passions, which gave way to delusions, accusations and paranoia. The translator had donated his money to the publication and had stipulated that all his proceeds go to the poor monastery referred to in the book.

Eventually, the translators, with prayer, decided that all the 'back and forth' of lawyers of the author's son and the Theological school press was demonic, and that it was taking away from the true reason for having translated and given their own money to have the book printed. So, in humility, they just caved in, even though they, and both lawyers, knew that they were in the right both legally and spiritually to have the book printed wherever they wanted.

That book is now being printed by a press the author's son set up to publish his father's books. The monastery may not be getting money from it, as the translators had intended, but atleast the faithful are deriving spiritual manna from the publication of the book.

Moral of the story: Sometimes it boils down to what is more important to a soul...humility and peace, or rebellion, fighting, and passionate actions and emotions.

Alice

P.S. I understand your upset and compassion for them, since they are in your jurisdiction. I don't judge old calenderists from new calenderists. I think the split is a shame. I think that spiritually we are all the same. I was very upset at the persecution by the Greek government of Elder Ephraim. However, in the process, I was given the opportunity to see an example of Christian humility..he left with the authorities, who themselves were upset to have to take such a holy man. I saw the peace, but tears of the monks whose spiritual Father was being taken from them. I saw the Russian people, hierarchs and authorities that were blessed by his presence with the relic of the belt of the Mother of God in Russia just a month before, outraged at the injustice, but civil and Christian acting in their approach.

This is what you and others in your church that love them should be praying for in this unfortunate situation. The monks have the opportunity to rise above the situation, and to put into praxis the Christian humility of the martyrs in the face of what they deem a 'wrong' and 'persecution'.

Alice,

I do understand your point, but I don't agree. I can agree that prayers for a resolution is what is needed.

You mentioned that your husband has been to Athos. What do you think of the ban on women? I ask because the EU has gotten involved and wants the ban lifted because it is considered a human rights violation.

I guess that is two questions really. First the ban on women and then the sovereignty of the holy mountain. I do know that the atheist in the Greek government have suggested the sale of lands as a means to ease the debt.

Chad,

Has your jurisdiction excommunicated the EP? Or something less dramatic, that it will not obey him?

Alex

As much as I sympathize with the fathers at Esphigmenou, and can understand their zeal and fervor, as well as their contempt of certain heirarchs who in their (as well as many other's) opinion, stray perilously close to abandoning the faith, certain realities must be addressed:

http://www.romfea.gr/ektakta-nea-2/18282-2013-07-29-18-34-39


1. The brotherhood residing in the historic Monastery of Esphigmenou is schismatic. Not because it observes the Old Calendar, but because it is NOT in communion with any other Orthodox Church or Patriarchate. Thus, apart from merely having ceased to commemorate the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Monastery has also broken off its communion with all the other Monasteries of the Holy Mountain, as well as with all the Orthodox Churches, whereas it has acceded to a full and ecclesiastical communion with one of the so-called "GOC" (Genuine Orthodox Christian) groups, which, let it be noted, have no ecclesiastical communion - not even among themselves. Since then, and to this day, no one is accepted for residence in the Monastery, unless they accept the ecclesiastical communion exclusively with that group, while others are persecuted.

2. Other predominant Monasteries have also interrupted the commemoration of the Patriarch at times and are cautious about the future, however, none of them has ever interrupted ecclesiastical communion nor has any ever acceded to an ecclesiastical communion with outside ecclesiastical groups - and of course none of them has ever been persecuted. On the Holy Mountain there are other zealot monks, who however live peacefully in their cells, without disturbing the Canonicity and the Statutes of the Holy Mountain.

3. The Constitution and the Statutes of the Holy Mountain prohibit monastic cohabitation with heterodox or schismatics.

4. In order for the reader to understand what "schismatic" means, let him note that the illegal occupants of Esphigmenou Monastery regard all of us [canonical Orthodox Christians] as unbaptized and heretics, who have been infected by the heresy of ecumenism. These "unfortunate" occupants have the same opinion about the Elders Paisios and Porphyrios and Iakovos. These occupants aren't even Hagiorites! The Sacred Community has, since 1974, been striving to secure decisions for the expulsion of the Abbot and the Committee members of the Monastery, who have thereafter lost the identity of Hagiorite monk. It was they who had scorned the decisions of the Sacred Community.

5. For thirty-nine whole years, the schismatics have been exploiting the tolerance of the Hagiorite Fathers, in order to gain recognition.

6. The illegal occupancy of Esphigmenou Monastery, apart from being an ecclesiastical problem, is also a NATIONAL one, because if it were permitted for every Monastery to excise itself from the Sacred Community, then it would be quite plausible for them to invoke reasons of faith, or conscience, or national reasons, etc., to excise their Monasteries and to accede unhindered to other ecclesiastical or national jurisdictions, with catastrophic consequences for the Holy Mountain, the Church, and the territorial sovereignty of our land. If the prohibition of cohabitation with heterodox and schismatics on the Holy Mountain were to be recognized as an offence to one's religious freedom, then soon after, we will also see the establishment of Papist monasteries and Protestant foundations on that Holy Ground.

7. Of course they are not persecuted for not condescending to accept European funds (as they continually tout), because even if they wanted to accept those funds, they would not be eligible because they do not have the right to administrate anything in the name of the Monastery that they are illegally occupying. Subsequently, their supposed "heroism, in not accepting European funds" becomes incredibly absurd and mendacious, when its ulterior motive is to arouse feelings of sympathy and admiration among the unsuspecting, for their controversial asceticism, which is proven even more self-discrediting if one were to consider the very respectable influx of Drachmas, Euros and Dollars pouring into the Monastery for the group's needs for propaganda, for publicity, for court procedures, etc., while these individuals have retroactively cashed in (and then continue to illegally demand) the annual State funding in the Monastery's name.

8. The matter is rendered even more controversial and a mockery, when one considers how these supposed "anti-Europeanists" have - through their supporters - already addressed the Human Rights Committee in Geneva, the Political Committee of the European Commonwealth in Brussels and Luxembourg, the International Union of Legists in Milan, etc., while also threatening to appeal to the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg, thus stirring up the "Franco-Latins" (as they call them) against the Holy Mountain and our homeland.

10. The illegal occupants not only obstruct the instruments of law and order from entering the space of the Monastery; even the 10th Supervisory Committee for Byzantine Antiquities has filed a suit against them, because they did not even allow the archaeologists to enter the Monastery.

11. The illegal occupants are not the "poor innocent guys" they strive to present themselves as in the Mass Media.

12. The Second Magistrates Court of Thessaloniki had sentenced on 8/3/2012 the "ringleaders" of the illegal occupancy of the Representative Sector of the Esphigmenou Monastery at Karyes of the Holy Mountain, to 29 months imprisonment with reprieve, for possession and use of weapons, dangerous bodily harm and simple bodily harm to members of the Monastery's new Brotherhood. It specifically tried the familiar case of the attack on the Representative Sector of the Esphigmenou Monastery in December of 2006, which had drawn the attention of the Press. The brotherhood of the Monastery hopes and prays that the aforementioned sentence will prove to be helpful, both for the awareness of those severely sentenced, as well as for the active response of the officials in finally freeing both the (illegally occupied) Representative Sector as well as the much-afflicted Monastery. Fanaticism and illegal occupancy cannot have a future.

13. The "poor innocent" monks have striven to calumniate our homeland at an international level. They have resorted to European (aka "Frankish" and "satanic", per their own claims) instruments, when they themselves accuse the Holy Mountain of being "Europe-lovers". They have appealed to courts with arguments which - if they were ever to be accepted - would bring catastrophic consequences for the entire Holy Mountain (including Esphigmenou Monastery of course).

14. Abbot Methodios does not even have Priesthood. Athanasios had been canonically chosen and enthroned, and Euthymios - from 1975 up until 1999 - had at least been ordained by a hierarch with canonical ecclesiastical communion. On the contrary, the present "abbot" Methodios does not even have that!

15. Their propaganda claiming "persecution" caught on; given that it was illegal for them to ask for special "residence visas" in the name of the Monastery, they claimed this as "forbidden entry" for their pilgrims; the tax exemption for imported goods was referred to as "deprivation of fuel for winter" - even though the Monastery burns wood; the "no entry" designated for vehicles entering the Holy Mountain was conveyed as the obstruction of trucks bringing food supplies and subsequently condemning them to die of starvation; they speak of "confiscation of the Monastery's properties", of "financial strangulation", of "frozen bank accounts" upon being asked a simple question - all these being entirely unfounded and inconceivable. They also spoke along the same lines - and in fact overseas - about "their water and electricity supply being cut off" (the first claim being entirely inconceivable and the second simply amusing, given that there is no electricity supply on the Holy Mountain.) Even the observance of laws pertaining to the very sensitive issue of vessels approaching the Holy Mountain by sea - for which the Hagiorites have struggled many years to safeguard - has been referred to as "a blockade from the sea". They have demonstrated everywhere, with every opportunity, that they are in danger of starving to death (while elsewhere, they claim to have food supplies for two years); that they ask for doctors and medicines but the Greek government refuses to supply them (when this has never happened and has been claimed it will never happen, whereas on the contrary, by "incarcerating" elders and the sick, they themselves are putting their health and their lives at risk):

16. a) By having acceded to a specific group of Old Calendarists, the illegal occupants therefore no longer commemorate the Patriarch. Then again, there are also many other zealots on the Holy Mountain who are not persecuted by the Patriarch or by the State, because of their faith!

17. b) They cannot collect any funds from the European Union, because they cannot administrate the Monastery's documents and elements, which they are illegally holding.

18. c) They are not being persecuted, given that they are living absolutely unrestrained, doing literally whatever they please, and totally indifferent to the Laws of the State - and of the Holy Mountain, thus putting its status quo at risk.

19. d) They delight in concocting "persecutions" and police brutality - as they had done last September, when they had stated to all the Media that SWAT teams had come up to the Mountain to drive them out. This piece of news was a thorough lie. But they did the same thing in December of 2006, when they had cracked the skull of Fr. Ephraim! In fact, the photo of Fr. Ephraim (shown above) circulated over the Internet as "evidence" of the illegal occupants' persecution, with the claim that the wounded Priest-Monk was a member of the schismatics.

20. e) The illegal occupants have no communion with any of the other Hagiorite Monasteries.

By the same token, the actions of the Constantinopolan Patriarchate, the Holy Synod and the Greek government has been, at best, shameful, at worst, criminal. This is not how Christians, much less heirarchs, settle disputes. The answer is prayer, not riot police and bulldozers.

And yes, I am on the Old Calendar, but I am not an Old Calendarist. Rather than walling myself off, I choose to work from within. My sympathies do lie with the religious practices, piety and fervor of the TOC's, but not in the manner by which they attempt to achieve these goals.

Alexandr

Remember it was the four member ruling committee that effectively excommunicated the monastery in 1972. It wasn't a problem until 2002 when the EP decided to evict the monks. Much like the ROCOR convent in the holy land. I am afraid you are right about the true issue. And that is money.

I remember ROCOR collecting money for the persecuted monks on Athos. My how things have changed.

Since 1923 our synod has been holding fast to the traditions that had been handed down to them. Excommunication is a spiritual matter between the person and their spiritual father.

All rhetoric aside, we simply don't believe the same things.

As far as collecting money for the persecuted Athonite monks, we still do. They are our Christian brothers and do have to eat, even if they are getting a little over the top. There is a collection can in the back of my home parish for the Esphigmenou Monastery Relief Fund. And it fills on a regular basis. I know because I handle the charitable funds.
And as far as the rest of world Orthodoxy, true, we have restored Eucharistic Communion with them. But that does not mean that at times we do not have to figuratively "hold our noses" at some of their doings. As I have mentioned previously, yes, sometimes certain heirarchs stray dangerously close to the precipice of apostacy and even heresy, but thus far, they have turned back in time. But trust me, the first time Constantinople or any heirarch truly "crosses that line", ROCOR will be amongst the first to call them on it. Take for instance +Bartholemew's questionable statements on abortion. Was it ill conceived? Yes, very. And was it even more of a gaffe to not clarify his statements when pressed by Father Edward Pehanich of the American Carpatho Russian Diocese. less than intelligent? Definitely. Heresy? No.
The real issue with all the TOC's lies at the concept of Ecumenism. And we must therefore define ecumenism. Yes the heresy of ecumenism exists. We pray every liturgy for protection from the heresy of ecumenism in the litanies. But what defines it. Since ROCOR wrote it, let me present it:
"Those who attack the Church of Christ by teaching that Christ's Church is divided into so-called "branches" which differ in doctrine and way of life, or that the Church does not exist visibly, but will be formed in the future when all "branches" or sects or denominations, and even religions will be united into one body; and who do not distinguish the priesthood and mysteries of the Church from those of the heretics, but say that the baptism and eucharist of heretics is effectual for salvation; therefore, to those who knowingly have communion with these aforementioned heretics or who advocate, disseminate, or defend their new heresy of Ecumenism under the pretext of brotherly love or the supposed unification of separated Christians, Anathema! "

Nowhere do I see the actions of any standing heirarch in world Orthodoy falling under this anathema. True some have soiled the hem of their garment on it, but none have yet embraced it. Chad, it is one thing to cease commemoration, for offenses observed and perceived, and even to wall oneself off for a while. Lord knows we did for 70 years. But to declare Orthodoxy graceless? That is where the TOC's and myself part company.

It also states: " In regard to ecumenism, every local Church has had ample time, more than a century, to spend examining it and, if the local Churches base their teachings and life upon the canons of the Holy Apostles and the other Orthodox Councils, then they cannot but recognize that ecumenism is clearly the most pernicious of heresies, for it has gathered all the heresies that exist or have existed and has called this union a Church—a deed that savors of Antichrist."

And again: The anathema we have proclaimed is de jure a manifestation of a purely local character of the Russian Church Abroad, but de facto it has immense significance for the history of the universal Church, for ecumenism is a heresy on a universal scale. The place of the Russian Church Abroad is now plain in the conscience of all the Orthodox. The Lord has laid a great cross upon us, but it is, however, no longer possible to remain silent, for continued silence would be like a betrayal of the Truth, from which may the Lord deliver us all!

And from Orthodox Life: "This is an eloquent condemnation of ecumenism and a clear statement of our Synod s rejection of it. What s not so clear, however, is the fact that this anathema is legislative in nature, rather than judicial, i.e., it is a codification of a theological principle into law, but not a verdict—much less a sentence. In other words, it identifies a specific phenomenon (ecumenism) as a heresy, and prescribes the penalty (Anathema!) for those who embrace and defend it, or "knowingly have communion" with those who do*, but it excommunicates no one! It is legislation. It is not judgment. And this is borne out by Metropolitan Vitaly in an article he wrote for "Orthodox Life" (No. 4, 1984, p. 32) while he was still Archbishop of Montreal and Canada.

I understand your position, but don't be so quick to dismiss the TOC's. I want you to think back to when we, as members of ROCOR before the union, viewed the churches outside of us.

When you point to the TOC's that pass judgement as to who has grace, they were the same handful of people that we talked about in ROCOR. They are fringe elements that remain to this day "walled off," from everyone. Remember the Mathewites? They are still there.

We are no different than you were twenty years ago. Our bishops were ordained by ROCOR. Our history is ROCOR. Our Liturgy is ROCOR.

I know Chad. I remember Bishop Petros of Astoria and my beloved Archbishop Averky were best of friends. And I have no qualms with the more moderate of the TOC's. Although generally uncomfortable in a Byzantine as opposed to Russian Church, I normally would attend a TOC Church if a ROCOR Church was not available. And yes I agree, you have your loons, just as we do! LOL! And I am relieved to hear you declare that they are the fringe, your version of ROCIE/ROAC/ROCOR-V/A/B. My wish is that rather than walling yourself off, join us to help us fix that which is broken. The TOC's could do a world of good by teaching piety by example.

I am one hundred percent in favor of the ban on women to Mt. Athos!!

Why wouldn't I be?

Mt. Athos is the garden of Panaghia and that is how it should stay...not only because of this pious tradition, or because of cultural tradition, but for the piety and spiritual safety of monastic life for the monks.

Am I considered a liberal because I am not in your church? If so, why?

I know all about the EU, and I believe that Greece (from the Greek news) is fighting tooth and nail to not allow that. Even female politicians in Greece, who are not particularly pious, are defending the ban because it is the tradition of their country.

Chad,

I apologise for using "excommunication" in the Papist way. I'm a Papal Uniate, after all.

And we believe differently as well . . . sniff . . .

Alex

Obedience to religious authorities is not absolute. Man can only give absolute obedience to God. That said, no one owed obedience to Patriarch Pyrrhus, or Patriarch Nestorius, or Patriarch Dioscorus, et al., when they in conscience determined that the patriarch in question was in error. Finally, the present Ecumenical Patriarch appears to be handling this situation quite poorly. Honestly it makes him look bad.

I will paraphrase what I posted yesterday on an Orthodox forum...

All of this avoids the harsh underlying issue: to those of us Orthodox (my Catholic brothers and sisters should understand this) who are within the structure of "world" Orthodoxy (the traditional Patriarchates and associated bodies), and to these monks and the bishops they have placed themselves under - we have to stop tap dancing around the truth that we regard each other as schismatics,regardless of how we sugar coat it.

Some of the radical "true" Orthodox view my Church as being "without grace." For that, we view them as having left Orthodoxy. You can't have things both ways. Many here (that includes this Forum as well) complain about "political correctness" in society, but look the other way on these issues when they regard the Church.

I'll say it, these men have elevated themselves against their Church and her Bishops, they do not follow the time honored law of the Holy Mountain. They may reject the world and its "errors" as they see it . But that's their choice. Choices have consequences.

To us who are within "world" Orthodoxy, they have left the Church. It is time they left the Holy Mountain.

Dr. King, Mandela and Ghandi were willing to suffer imprisonment for their beliefs. They changed their worlds. By the behaviour of these men, I doubt that they will change much of anything.

A sad, sad situation. But, something had to be done.