The tragedies befalling Orthodox Christian heritage are not confined to the distant past; they persist in our present, often under the guise of political expediency. The cases of Soumela and Esphigmenou Monasteries stand as stark reminders of the ongoing plight of Orthodoxy in its historic heartlands—Greece and Turkey, the cradle of Christian civilization.
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Both Soumela and Esphigmenou Monasteries are masterpieces of Orthodox Christian architecture and spiritual life, with origins tracing back to the early centuries of the Church. Soumela was founded in the 4th century by Theodosius I, and Esphigmenou was established in the 5th century by Theodosius II. These monasteries have witnessed the ebb and flow of history, surviving through periods of great turmoil and change.

​In the Hellenic Orthodox tradition, a true "zealot" upholds the teachings of the Church with unwavering dedication, always guided by humility, love, and a deep commitment to unity within the Body of Christ’s Great Church. Such an Orthodox person does not resort to deception, threats, violence, or pride in any measure. Instead, they embody the spirit of Orthodox Christianity, preserving the Church's sacred canons while fostering unity within Christ's Great Church.

​Emerging from the secluded corridors of a remote monastery on Mount Athos, a satanic figure stands out amidst the gentle and prayerful monks—Methodios. This imposter monk has perverted the sacred traditions of Orthodox Christianity, turning them into tools of division and fear. Unlike his peaceful counterparts, Methodios Papalambrakopoulos is a militant pseudo-monastic thug driven by a distorted vision of Orthodoxy.

​Mount Athos, a historic bastion of Orthodox monasticism under the omophorion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, stands as a living testament to two millennia of unwavering faith, self-discipline, and spiritual dedication. This revered site, known worldwide, is currently facing a threat—not from external forces, but from a group of impostors posing as Orthodox monks. These individuals, through their unlawful seizure of historic monastery buildings, are desecrating the sanctity and heritage of Mount Athos, a place of unparalleled historical significance that cannot be overstated. Relevant authorities must undertake this issue with the seriousness it demands and remedy the failure of the host nation, the Hellenic Republic, to fulfill its constitutional obligations. 
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Στο σημερινό τοπίο των ελληνικών πολιτικών θεατρινισμών, τα περιθωριακά κόμματα συναγωνίζονται για επιρροή. Δεν είναι ασυνήθιστο να βλέπουμε πολιτικούς να εκμεταλλεύονται τα θρησκευτικά συναισθήματα για να προωθήσουν τις ατζέντες τους. Ένα πρόσφατο αποθαρρυντικό θέαμα είναι η σειρά απερίσκεπτων σχολίων ενός Έλληνα πολιτικού, του Κυριάκου Βελόπουλου, ο οποίος βγήκε στην τηλεόραση, διαδίδοντας ψέματα και διαστρεβλώσεις σχετικά με την εκκλησιολογία της Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας, με το δηλητήριό του να επικεντρώνεται κυρίως στο Άγιο Όρος και το Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο. Αυτή η ξεδιάντροπη σχισματική «παλαιοημερολογίτικη» εκστρατεία παραπληροφόρησης όχι μόνο υπονομεύει τις ιερές παραδόσεις της Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας, αλλά οι διπρόσωποι εταίροι του έχουν ιδιαίτερη οργή για να αμαυρώσουν τη φήμη του Παναγιωτάτου Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίου, ενός σεβαστού πνευματικού ηγέτη του οποίου η δέσμευση στην ορθόδοξη ενότητα, ειρήνη και διατήρηση της Ορθοδοξίας παραμένει απαράμιλλη. Ωστόσο, αυτό το τρολ καταπίνει με χαρά τους νόμιμους ηγέτες που επεξεργάζονται την ιδιοτελή πολιτική τους.

​In the current landscape of Greek political theatrics, fringe parties jostle for influence; it is not uncommon to witness politicians exploiting religious sentiments to further their agendas. One recent demoralizing spectacle is the series of ill-advised remarks made by a Greek politician, Kyriakos Velopoulos, who has taken to television, spreading lies and distortions about the Orthodox church’s ecclesiology, with his venom mainly focused on Mount Athos and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This brazen schismatic “Old-calendarist” campaign of misinformation not only undermines the sacred traditions of the Orthodox Church but his duplicitous partners have specific ire to tarnish the reputation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a revered spiritual leader whose commitment to Orthodox unity, peace, and the preservation of Orthodoxy remains unparalleled. Yet this troll gleefully engulfs legitimate leaders working out their self-serving politics.

​The recent headlines about Esfigmenou Monastery on Mount Athos should not be dismissed lightly. This place, steeped in deep historical and religious significance, has become the focal point of escalating tensions involving police forces and militant monk’s threats of violence. These are not just sensational stories; they are manifestations of a longstanding conflict that demands our immediate and urgent attention and resolution.

​Οι πρόσφατοι τίτλοι των ΜΜΕ για τη Μονή Εσφιγμένου στο Άγιο Όρος δεν πρέπει να παραβλεφθούν επιπόλαια. Αυτός ο τόπος, βουτηγμένος σε βαθιά ιστορική και θρησκευτική σημασία, έχει γίνει το επίκεντρο της κλιμάκωσης των εντάσεων που εμπλέκονται αστυνομικές δυνάμεις και απειλές μαχητών μοναχών για βία. Αυτές δεν είναι απλώς συγκλονιστικές ιστορίες. είναι εκδηλώσεις μιας μακροχρόνιας σύγκρουσης που απαιτεί την άμεση και επείγουσα προσοχή και επίλυσή μας.
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-Archon Elias Damianakis

​Nestled within the serene and secluded landscapes of Mount Athos, the Esphigmenou Monastery stands as a bastion of ancient Orthodox Christian tradition. Under the direct spiritual jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, this monastic community has been a spiritual haven for centuries, attracting pilgrims and seekers of divine wisdom from across the globe. However, in recent years, Esphigmenou has become a focal point of controversy and conflict, primarily due to its occupation by a group of defrocked schismatic individuals masquerading as monks of the mainstream old-calendar Orthodox Church. This situation has not only ecclesiastic and theological implications but also legal and political ones, particularly concerning the crucial role of the Greek government in protecting this historic institution.