There has been a great disturbance since yesterday at the Esfigmenou Monastery on Mount Athos, as ELAS is preparing a large-scale eviction operation in areas of Athos.

The document was submitted to the Monastery by a bailiff and since then the 118 ancient calendar elders of the Monastery have been on “watch”. In fact, supporters of the Holy Monastery gathered in Ouranoupoli and still collected food for the monks, in case of emergency.

In the document of the Karyon Police Station – the Greek Police requests permission from the Holy Epistasia to launch a large-scale operation with the assistance of strong police forces and heavy vehicles.

It is noted that the document was sent both to the Holy Epistasia and to the Holy Community, but also to all the monasteries. However, it does not say how many police officers will enter, what kind of heavy vehicles they will transport and – most importantly – when this will happen.

Since 1972, the monks of Esfigmenou Monastery have taken a hard stance against the leadership of Orthodoxy and cut off all connections with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, disputing the meetings with representatives of the Roman Catholic Church.

Since 2002 the old brotherhood has been declared “illegal” and – until today – for the Greek justice the monks of the Esfigmenou Monastery are characterized as “squatters” and they were asked to leave the Monastery.

At the same time, they have been excluded from state and European resources, while the Council of State for almost 20 years has officially recognized as legal the new brotherhood of Esfimenou, which is based in Karyes, removing any right or privilege from the old members.

In fact, both in 2006 and 2013 Mount Athos was tarnished by images of widespread incidents and tensions with police forces.

“We will defend the monastery to the death”

The elder Methodios – one of those convicted for the widespread incidents of 2013 – told ThessToday.gr that in the event of a police operation, the monks will not stand idly by.

“We are ready to defend the monastery to the death, this is our spiritual homeland. Here we were born spiritually and here we will die. Police officers are all they do, I don’t get them wrong. They are bound to do what they are told. And they are chasing us,” he said.

According to the elder Methodius, “if the Fathers of the Monasteries and the police come here so that the Greeks fight the Greek monks, let them take it out of their penance. Let them come. And let whatever he wants be done. If the police pull me and drag me, will the monks sit with their hands tied? Or if they see an officer beating a monk, will the fathers sit and watch them? Crimes will be committed and these are motivated by the Monks who have no purpose”.

Disturbance and question marks in Monasteries

As voria.gr reports, the matter is expected to be discussed outside the agenda at today’s meeting of the Holy Community, however no one knows which evictions it refers to.

“His publication created a disturbance and ignited scenarios mainly outside the monastic state,” said the monks of Agioreite.

As they pointed out, “a police operation, even if it concerns Mount Athos, should not be made public, especially in this way because it causes reactions. We do not know which evictions it refers to and the letter is quite vague as to the time and number of police officers and vehicles that will enter.”