Disturbance and concern is being caused in Mount Athos by the publication of a document from the police, which requests the support of the Monasteries for the “entry, accommodation, and movement of police officers and heavy vehicles throughout the Athonian Peninsula for an extended period, in order to respond to a request made by a judicial bailiff for the execution of evictions in areas of the Athonite State.”
All eyes turned to the Esphigmenou Monastery, which has been occupied by Zealous monks for over 50 years and, despite a final decision from the Supreme Court, which is “necessarily enforceable,” the monastery has not been returned to the legitimate brotherhood, according to voria.gr.
The publication of the document led to a gathering of supporters of the Zealots yesterday morning in Ouranoupoli, while Elder Methodios reiterated his well-known statements, “we will defend the monastery to the death” – after all, for years, there has been a banner at the monastery’s facade with the slogan “Orthodoxy or Death.”
The Zealots have ceased to commemorate the Ecumenical Patriarch since the early 1970s, while the permanent brotherhood resides in Karyes, and the issue has been pending in the courts for years until a definitive and irrevocable decision was issued by the Supreme Court for the return of all movable and immovable property of the monastery to the new brotherhood.
Athonite monks who spoke to voria.gr stated that “a police operation, even if it concerns Mount Athos, should not be made public, especially in this way, as it provokes reactions. We do not know what evictions it concerns, and the letter is quite vague regarding the time and the number of police officers and vehicles that will enter.”
They also noted that “even the title of the document ‘Provision of Assistance’ is vague. What kind of assistance can we provide the police?”
Regarding the possibility of a police operation at the Esphigmenou Monastery, Athonite monks argue that “something like this would not be made public with a document of common receipt, and such an intervention would not be… advertised this way.”
It is noted that the document was sent to both the Holy Epistasy and the Holy Community, as well as to all the monasteries. However, it does not mention how many police officers will enter, what kind of heavy vehicles will transport, and – most importantly – when this will happen.
There are judicial decisions – aside from the Esphigmenou Monastery – for the eviction of monks from Karyes, while a more recent decision from the Council of State involves the removal of a monk from a cell of the Monastery of Great Lavra, as he is a Zealot.
“The enforcement of legality is certainly the responsibility of the State through the police, but in essence, no one knows exactly in which cases of eviction this document pertains. It is vague regarding the specific operation or operations, and as such, at least at this phase, it does not concern us,” commented sources from Mount Athos to voria.gr.
“Let them come”
Elder Methodios – one of those convicted for the extensive incidents of 2013 – speaks to ThessToday.gr and declares that in the event of a police operation, they will not remain with their hands crossed.
“We are ready to defend the monastery to the death, here is our spiritual homeland. Here we were spiritually born, and here we will die. The police are merely employees; I do not hold it against them. They are required to do what they are told. And they pursue us. We have elders living here for 50, 60, 70 years. They forbid us from entering the monastery to get food. We carry things on our backs and walk 1.5 kilometers. Shall we let the elders die because two people want it? God forbid, where are we?” he wonders.
According to Elder Methodios, “if the Fathers of the Monasteries and the police come here to have Greeks fight against Greek monks, let them take it out of their repentance. Let them come. And whatever happens, let it happen. If police officers drag me and pull me, will the monks sit with their hands tied? Or if they see an officer hitting a monk, will the fathers just watch? There will be crimes, and these are encouraged by the monks who have no purpose.”
“We have never harmed anyone – They are lying”
Both in 2006 and in 2013, Mount Athos was marred by images of extensive incidents and tensions with police forces, with Elder Methodios asserting that the Monastery has been targeted. “We have nothing against the Holy Community or the Patriarchate. We have issues with the people. We only accept what the Holy Fathers left. They accuse us of things that are not true, that we train Russians. Whoever comes, we will host them; we will give them a piece of bread to eat. Even if they are Turkish, we will offer them a glass of water. And this is done at our effort because they have taken everything from us. Many times I do not even have 5 euros to buy something for the elder. I force the other brothers who help us,” he mentions.
And he adds: “What did they come to do in Mount Athos? We did not come to collect money like they do, for two people to take all the monastery’s income. What do they do with it? I have been tried 65 times. Is this according to God? Are these monks in Mount Athos? We have never harmed anyone. We simply say what we say. They constantly lie, claiming that we are hiding Nikos Papas (an imprisoned member of Golden Dawn), that we are training Russian commandos, if that’s even possible. And they say this to the public and then go outside and speak of love. What is love? That when I cannot convince the other to come with me, I make him die of hunger? Is this monastic – Christian love? God forbid. If this is Mount Athos, I am sorry.”
The incidents of 2013
It is noted that incidents broke out in July 2013. During the incidents, whose cause was the attempt by judicial bailiffs to evacuate the representation in accordance with a previous court ruling, even Molotov cocktails were thrown.