Athos monks opposed the governor due to the expulsion of the inhabitants

Monks of Holy Mount Athos They made an open letter against the actions of the political administrator of Alcibiadis Stefani, who began the process of persecution and expulsion of some monks from the monastic republic, writes SPG on Athos.

In their appeal, the Athos Fathers-Celliots emphasized that the governor’s decision to apply sanctions against monks contradicts centuries-old traditions Holy Mountain. They recalled that Athos is “Not just a geographical point, but the lot of the Virgin”, Where Monks serve Christ, not to the worldly authorities.

“The tactics that you, as a political governor, began to use objectionable inhabitants on the Holy Mountain – is erroneous to you and your bosses. We are not your soldiers, not your sergeants, not your officers, not objects to say only “so accurately” and “I obey”. We are free personalities “– the letter says.

The fathers indicated that The powers of the political governor must only be limited supervision of public order and security According to the Charter of 1924, without the right to intervene in church and spiritual issues.

“As the Svyatogorsk Celliots fathers, we accept and recognize the Holy Mountain of the Holy Mountain of the Holy Mountain of the Holy Mountain … We repeat to you that we are not afraid. We are only afraid of Christ! “, – emphasized Athos monks.

This conflict raises serious questions about the boundaries between state power and church autonomy on Athos. We give the full text of the letter of the Athos Fathers-Celliots:

Just as in the Armed Forces, the permanent member of which you were, there are established rules for their organization and proper functioning, which everyone is obliged to follow, and in the Athos state the Holy Fathers have established sacred canons for centuries.

The laity in our time has become familiar to use inappropriate methods, violating the established rules in order to advance to higher positions. You are undoubtedly known from your own experience the methods and methods necessary for promoting the career ladder. However, do not forget that these approaches are unacceptable and not applicable to the monks of the Holy Mountain.

On the Holy Mountain, the monks are the warriors of Christ, designed to serve and protect what Christ himself taught, like this to some high -ranking faces or not. Do you realize where you are? You did not come to some ordinary place, but to the Holy Mountain, in the destiny of the Virgin. The queen and ruler of the Athos state is our Mother of God, the mother of our Christ. You yourself were personally convinced that our Virgin is alive and powerful. Being commander of the ground forces, you were awarded to survive and see the power of the Virgin when she saved the mechanics of the army helicopter, which crashed into the locapor near Elasona (04/19/2017). Have you forgotten this miracle?

The methods that you, as a political governor of the Holy Mountain, began to be used to expel objectionable inhabitants – you and your leaders are erroneous. We are not your soldiers, not your sergeants, not your officers, not things to answer only “so accurately” and “I obey”. We are free personalities.

As the warriors of Christ, we have the freedom of religious conscience, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, courage, and we correctly follow the example of the God -man Jesus Christ, who always boldly spoke to the rulers of this world.

The tactics of persecution – with indefinite slanderous accusations of “grave misconduct” – which you began to use against the monks of the Holy Mountain, is inappropriate. Perhaps this was practiced in the ground forces where you served. However, both you and your alleged leaders are mistaken. You are not dealing with civilians or military personnel with a certain way of thinking and behavior known to your advisers, so it is easy for you to pursue people due to the predictability of their behavior.

In the Athos state, the monks are the soldiers of Christ who do not obey your orders, do not belong to you and do not feel fear … For they are afraid of only Christ and Queen of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an invincible governor.

We want to believe that during this short period of your stay as a political governor you realized this! If not, we believe that you should understand this …

We want to notify you that how you strive to find out the details of the life of every monk, so be completely sure that we, the monks, with God's help, are aware of all the details of life and the career of political governors, including you. … and this should also be understood by you …

Like Svyatogorsk Celliots Fathers, we recognize the highest administrative body on the Holy Gore exclusively sacred cinema …

The competence of each political governor, like your powers, should be limited to supervision of public order and security (according to Article 3 of the Legislative Decree of 1926) in accordance with the Charter Charter (K.Kh.A.O. 1924) … without interference in church and spiritual issues …

We repeat to you that we are not afraid. We are afraid only of Christ! It would be prudent to be afraid of the justice of our leader and Lord Jesus Christ.

Svyatogorsk Fathers-Celliots.

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