Stories of espionage and counter-espionage on Mount Athos against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine

By Marina Zioziou

In very serious complaints about Russian spies and supranationalists circulating uncontrollably in Athonite State and specifically in under occupation Monastery of Esfigmenos has advanced the Abbot of her lawful and normal brotherhood Holy Monastery of Esfigmenos, Archimandrite Bartholomew.

A few days before the Abbot, in an interview with the German newspaper BILDtalked about the influence they exert Russian oligarchs in monasteries of Mount Athos. In fact, as he characteristically noted, “Russians and pro-Russians have occupied our monastery for years and no government or Authority dares to do anything.”

In our effort to ascertain the sources and the seriousness of the information, which does not adopt the vast majority of Monasteries, we conclude that all the above information comes only from the Abbot’s complaints. This is a serious man, who, however, with not very convincing facts (photos of the past), presents facts which by many Mount Athos are considered excessive.

Also, that all the troubles come from the inmates of the central building complex of the Monastery is a fact that can not be verified and for whom, not only the current government, but all to this day, leave “untouched”. “Why” and “how” are another story.

Question of the Mount Athoswith some we had the opportunity to talk, it is how so many spies are entering the “Orchard of the Virgin” latelywhen for more than one year entry ban and the minimum number of employees entering, are required to undergo a coronavirus test.

According to the data presented by the Abbot of the Monastery of Esfigmenos“It is no coincidence that the squatters’ relations with Russian supranationalists, nostalgic for the Russian Empire and its imperialist policy of descending into the Aegean, are at a time when” the same symbols, flags and banners are being used in racist marches in Moscow. ” as he states in a recent letter.

Based on the allegations made by the Abbot«For a long time, a Russian military banner was hung on the small building of the occupied building.“Of the Monastery, while the” rasofori who opened them and accompanied them inside should ask them to collect the flag and not to parade with it inside the Monastery “.

Citing audiovisual materialthe Abbot describes that “the Russian nationalists first went to the door of the Monastery, where they talked to the guards of the occupation, they were missing for a long time as it is recorded that they went to the cave of St. Anthony Pethersky and then returned to the Monastery, where they allowed entrance with the flag raised, in the presence of a Russian-speaking occupier “.

He also states that “in the past, Russian Cossack nationalists have visited the occupied central building of our Monastery. in their military uniforms “, explaining that” the Russian Cossacks are a militia corps, they make patrols and intervene in the interests of the Russian government “.
However, none of this is confirmed by the responsible security authorities, based in the Athonite State.

What is really true – according to our report – is that foreign oligarchs, especially Russians and Ukrainians, in the pre-COVID eraoffered a lot of money for the restoration of Holy Monasteries, cells, which is confirmed by the number of shops that operated in Ouranoupolis and the capital of Mount Athos, Karyes, which today remain almost closed.

In addition, this is confirmed by the thank you letters and the corresponding parchments given by the benefited Monasteries to the foreign or domestic sponsors.
It would also be important to know the view of the High Authority of Mount Athos, the Holy Community, on this issue.

Finally, if there is indeed evidence and documents for the action of Russian supranationalists on Mount Athos and especially in the occupied Monastery of Esfigmenos, why they are not officially reported to the competent Prosecution and Prosecution Authorities of the countryto act accordingly?

“The Ecumenical Patriarch on Mount Athos”

As it has become known, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will visit Mount Athos on Friday 27 May until Sunday 29 Mayaccompanied by clergy and laity.
The visit takes place in fulfillment of his wish for the worship of the icon “Axion Esti” and for the performance of Divine Liturgy in the Holy Temple of Protatos, in the presence of abbots and representatives of the 20 Holy Monasteries.

He will be accompanied by the metropolitans of Miletus, Kallioupolis and Madytos, France and Polyani and Kilkis. Also, the Ecclesiastical Leader Mr. Aetios, Director of the Special Patriarchal Office, the patriarchal deacon Ieronymos Sotirelis, the Director of the First Patriarchal Office and Emeritus Professor of the Theological School of Athens Konstantinos Delikonstantis and the Communist Director Members of the government and the opposition are expected to arrive in the Athonite State.

Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news