[Thanks for sharing, Brendan.]
Mount Athos in US sights –
The effort to neutralize Russian influence
The role of US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland
‘ There has always been a police station on Mount Athos. For a while now, 24ara has been upgraded to a police station and with a decision, it reports directly to the Leader of EL.AS.
The same information states that Victoria Nuland blamed the attitude and inadequacy of both the Commander of Mount Athos, the shipowner Martin, and many Greek shipowners and businessmen who transport products from Russian ports, breaking the informal “embargo” imposed by the United States.
If this is called an independent state then we have nothing else to say. According to information, the New Police Directorate is filled with people of unknown origin who pretend to be police officers.
The placement of the honorary Chief of General Staff and former Deputy Minister A. Stefani as responsible for Mount Athos was not only [not?] accidental.
A. Stefanis has very close relations with the American factor.
There is no doubt that the role of US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland (who recently visited Greece) has been crucial and decisive both in shaping the new framework of relations that now characterizes the two countries, on the occasion of the Ukrainian issue, and in Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s visit to Washington and his meeting with President Biden, but also the upcoming and planned speech of the Greek Prime Minister in Congress!
From this point of view, Victoria Nuland’s intervention on the issue of Mount Athos and the situation in the autonomous Mount Athos state is considered (according to those who know it well) to be of major importance. Details are not needed.
In this light, the No. 3 interventions of American diplomacy and foreign policy are considered to be of great importance, especially in critical times like the one we are going through, in the midst of the energy crisis and the state of war in Ukraine and Eastern Europe in general, but also of all those who come for exploitation of the Aegean with the Turks.
The US Undersecretary of State during her meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister N. Dendias essentially demanded the existence of controls in order to stop the pro-Russian action that some monasteries are developing.
According to information, the prime minister was given a list of 17 monks, including 3 abbots who move to Mount Athos with fake passports pretending to be monks !!! That’s all Victoria Nuland says. ‘
“Head of Orthodox Church of Ukraine: We Will Defeat ‘Antichrist Putin’”
ROME — The Orthodox Bishop Epiphanius, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, called Russian president Vladimir Putin the “new Antichrist” who has “decided to destroy the Ukrainian people.”
“With God’s help, we will defeat the enemy, we will defeat the new Antichrist Putin, who has decided to destroy the Ukrainian people,” the metropolitan said during a sermon on Friday. “But we must not fall, we must continue to be spiritually strong.”
Epiphanius, who is the primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, was officiating at the Divine Liturgy for St. George the Trophy Bearer, whose memory is commemorated on May 6 according to the Julian calendar.
“God and St. George support us in this struggle, from which we will emerge as winners. And these trials will make us stronger spiritually,” Epiphanius said.
“This is why we must fight, pray and do everything in our power to preserve this great gift of freedom, to consolidate it, and to transmit it to future generations,” he added.
The Ukrainian primate also invoked lessons from history, insisting that Ukraine must fight to the finish.
“We will defeat the enemy, we will restore our territorial integrity, we will regain the occupied territories, and in our united, independent, democratic, European Ukraine, we will build a common future. And this future is now in our hands,” he said.
During the service, prayers were also offered for the soldiers defending Ukraine, for the government and the people, and for the repose of the souls of those who have fallen for their homeland.
In his first Divine Liturgy as Metropolitan in December 2018, Epiphanius omitted the name of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow from the list of brother primates with whom he is in communion.
“At the moment I do not commemorate him because we are in a state of war, so the Ukrainian people would not accept if the newly elected primate commemorated the name of the Russian Patriarch,” he said in an interview on Ukrainian television.
Pope Francis recently warned that Patriarch Kirill must not be Putin’s “altar boy,” but has also insisted that divisions among Christians create “fertile ground” for war.
See: https://www.breitbart.com/faith/2022/05/08/head-of-orthodox-church-of-ukraine-we-will-defeat-antichrist-putin/
“In his first Divine Liturgy as Metropolitan in December 2018,
Epiphanius omitted the name of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow
from the list of brother primates with whom he is in communion.”
Well, he is not in communion with Patriarch Kirill;
or, rather, Kirill is not in communion with him…
please clean up this article there’s a bunch of abbreviations and references to things without any explanations or context. It looks suspicious.
It’s a google translation
of a Greek newspaper article
which you can confirm by clicking on the link.
It is what it is…
Yet another reason why the sanctions aren’t working:
https://www.helleniscope.com/2022/05/08/following-their-history-greek-ships-take-advantage-of-russian-sanctions/
Moral of the story? Always leave it up to the Greeks to muck things up for the West.
Μπράβο!
Seems Constantinople has renter into communion with the Macedonian schismatics. I’m not fan or Bartholomew (obviously), but, given that the Macedonian situation is much different that Ukraine I’m not sure this is such a bad thing if it canonically regularizes them.
I guess we’ll see how Serbia reacts.
I can’t imagine that the Serbs are going to be too happy.
I’ve seen conflicting info, either that it was a power play (again) by the EP, or, Serbia did indeed ask them to mediate. I’m sure if Serbia didn’t then we will be seeing a swift backlash from them soon.
On a separate note, within the Greek sphere it’s going to be interesting to see what they say since they don’t even consider Macedonia to be a country. I’m pretty sure that’s why Bartholomew is saying “Ohrid” instead of “Macedonia:”
I’ll give credit where credit is due IF this was done canonically. I always thought the Macedonian schism was a shame because it put an entire country outside of the Church for political reasons.
Here is some relevant info:
If this is true and the EP actually acted as the mediator with the consent of Serbia, and Macedonia is truly seeking regularization with the Church, then thanks be to God.
Petros,
I don’t think that that is what happened. The initial notice in the Orthodox Times reads to me like this is another unilateral recognition of schismatics by the Phanar and that he is directing the Church of Serbia to work with the “Church of Ohrid” according to canon and tradition(!?).
As of this writing, I have detected no reaction from the Serbs. However, all they need do is reject the interference and maintain separation from the “Church of Ohrid” or, if they choose, to receive the schismatics back. This might be a good time to follow the MP’s lead and excommunicate the Phanar.
“The Church of Ohrid”
I have heard it all now. Bartholomew refused to call it “Macedonian”.
Curious, the refusal of Bart to call them “Macedonian”: is that going to rile them up?
Anyway, for the schism btw Macedonia/Ohrid and Belgrade to be healed, doesn’t it have to come from the efforts of those two parties?
https://orthochristian.com/144604.html
This article makes me think that the Serbian Patriarch was involved and that the Macedonians asked Bartholomew to mediate, which I guess is technically something the EP should be doing.
I pray to God that was the case and that the schism was actually healed canonically
This once again underscores the dynamic and indispensable role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the servant of Orthodoxy.
If this is indeed the case, one could see your point.
Having said that, nothing of the sort was done when Bartholomew sent his exarchs into the Ukraine in 2018.
As for his interference in the Ukraine, he needs to acknowledge responsibility and repent.
The MOC schismed from the SOC so Serbia should resolve this.
Bartholomew can only mediate if he is asked by both parties and Serbia does not need or want Bartholomew’s involvement.
The Macedonians must resolve their issues with Serbia and establish a relationship with them before they’re granted autocephaly. Otherwise, they will remain uncanonical, like the schismatics in Ukraine.
in 1967 the Archbishopric of Ohrid and Macedonian Holy Synod unilaterally announced its autocephaly from the Serbian Orthodox Church. The Serbian synod denounced the decision and condemned the clergy as schismatic.
Macedonia is turning out to be another “Ukraine”.
But Bartholomew doesn’t care about such things.
How many times are they going to allow Bartholomew to chip away at the canonical Church? At the very minimum, the Church should remove the “special privilege” he thinks he has of mediating between two parties if one or both is uncanonical, as is the case with Macedonia.
I wish just one of our hierarchs would write a succinct explanation for why they have allowed these things to go unchallenged as if it is not their responsibility to prevent these things from happening.
The Holy Synod, which would include the Ancient Patriarchates and the Local Churches aren’t responsible for what Bartholomew chose to do BUT they hold a greater responsibility, as a BODY, to come together to figure out how to normalize the situation in Ukraine before allowing Bartholomew to interfere with yet another relationship between Serbia and Macedonia.
Bartholomew’s expulsion from Russia, as a result of entering ROC’s territory and setting up shop, increased the tensions and alienation between the two churches in Ukraine to the point where, now, some Ukrainians think Patriarch Kirill should be deposed and the Russian Orthodox Church is responsible for the war! This is all on Bartholomew.
What we’re seeing is the underbelly of the Church. If the hierarchs remained faithful to the canons, and to one another, there is nothing on this earth that is more beautiful as the Orthodox Church. But if they continue to operate as separate islands, refusing to be accountable, to and for one another, the whole thing falls apart.
We’re talking about another schism. We can’t accept Macedonia’s autocephaly through Bartholomew, as he is out of communion with over half the Church!
I know you mentioned that UOJ is not a reliable source (at least that’s what I think you said?), but, here is an article from a couple of days ago. Seems the meeting in the article occurred on 5/6/22. Hopefully this does mean that Bartholomew mediated rather than jumping the gun.
https://spzh.news/en/news/88239-serbskij-patriarkhat-vozobnovil-dialog-s-makedonskoj-cerkovyju
In the past, that’s what I found but it seems to be getting better. – This is encouraging.
I agree. I do hope they are regularized officially through the Serbians or else the MOC will just be trading one schism for another.
Joseph Lipper, this only proves—yet again—that Bartholomew is the ‘serpent’ in Orthodoxy, NOT the servant of Orthodoxy!
Dude, I can’t tell if you’re being serious but if you wrote that with a straight face good for you, I’ve also go ocean front property in Arizona to sell you…
Interesting, Petros. You may be right.
I hope so, not because I want to be right, but, because we as a Church need a break.
Bartholomew invading Ukraine, Covid hysteria, Russian-Ukraine conflict, now this…it’s been a rough ride in the Orthodox world the last few years and this will just add gasoline to the fire.
What I’m hoping/sounds like is that Bartholomew regularized the MOC and is leaving it up to the Church of Serbia to sort out the administrative issues. BUT, Bartholomew stated that the MOC cannot have parishes outside of Macedonia (like the OCU). Will the diaspora parishes be absorbed into the Serbian diocese? Greek diocese? It also seems like Bartholomew is making the MOC an Archdiocese under his jurisdicion…which I’m sure will go over like a ton of bricks with the Greeks.
If it was a total canonical heist like Ukraine was, I would have expected Serbia to have responded by now. But, if this was indeed a similar situation to Ukraine then I’m assuming Serbia will break communion with Bartholomew.
We shall wait and see.
I’ll add, it is extremely suspicious that the Patriarch of Serbia just yesterday received the U.S ambassador to Serbia. I don’t believe that was a coincidence
That doesn’t look good. Reminds me of the time that Pyatt paid a visit to Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos. Within something like 48 hours, the Metropolitan came out with a statement that only the Ecumenical Patriarch can grant autocephaly. Amazing coincidence. no?
Interesting, the Serbs held a massive pro-Russian demonstration yesterday on Victory Day. They even sang the Russian national anthem.
Also, the president said “no” to full NATO and EU membership. As for sanctions on Russia, the Serbs are clearly dragging their feet.
It’s interesting that there still hasn’t been any word from the Serbians regarding the MOC. I thought for sure there would be, especially given the events over this past wknd in the SOC.
I would imagine that if it was something serious then the SOC would have not waited this long so maybe they are working out how to receive the Macedonians back into the fold. At least I hope that is the case.
The Serbs just finished celebrating the delayed centennial celebrations of the restoration of their Patriarchate this past weekend. There will likely be a statement today or tomorrow, I think.
And yes, Black Bart really does choose his timing to cause maximum offence and upset.
Does Nuland have any intention of stepping foot on Mount Athos ?
Any attempt of such action will be a clear indication of the antichrist’s action.
Would Kyriakos approve this ? If so, anathema on him as an indication that he does not have the interests of Greeks and Orthodoxy worldwide at heart.
Given that she is a woman
(or, at least, that she identifies as such),
I don’t think she would get a pass to enter in to Athos.
As for Mitsotakis, he has the interests of Mitsotakis and the EU at heart…
Why did you think the Junta had such a problem with Athos? Athos has been a soviet spy base since 1839 (New York Times July 27 1913 pg C3; Aug 18, 1878. p. 6; Jan 5, 1940, p. E3 ).
I’m sorry, I don’t follow
Markos Fenaras, unless the Soviets had some kind of time travel machine, there is absolutely no way that Athos could have been a spy base for them back in 1839.
Well, then they must have time-traveling capabilities as the Soviet Union did not exist until 1918, a full 80 years after Mt Athos being a “spy base” for them.
Is there any word or updates on Athonite resistance to the EP with regard to the OCU (or Macedonia now)?
So far, no. At least not in the English speaking world. OrthoChristian is usually good about keeping up with Orthodox news in the English world.
I would agree. They are very good about letting people know if something that was written has changed, which I appreciate.
Only if the Tsars had better Intelligience they could have thwarted the Bolshevik revolution as early as 1850!
Those dastardly Russian Monks were secretly Soviet spies for 80 years before the real Soviet Union actually revealed itself? Who woulda thunk it?
No doubt they built one of those very cool Bond-like submarine bases under the island so the Monks could slip out unseen and sail to wherever they needed to go to do their actual spy business. Too bad the whole operation was shut down just before the Soviet Union came into existence.
This leaked document, likely Russian disinformation I suppose, blows the whole operation wide open. LOL
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.2478/9788376560328.5/pdf
So I guess the EP flubbed things up again regarding this whole “Church of Macedonia” thing? At least the Bulgarians and the Russians think so. (And I guess the Serbs as well.)
https://orthochristian.com/146091.html
Someone needs to get Pat Bartholomew a copy of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People.
I still think it’s strange that Serbia hasn’t said anything regarding the matter, two other Churches, Russia & Bulgaria, have. Even on the Church of Serbia official website nothing has been said. If I remember right when Bartholomew invaded Ukraine, Russia issued a swift rebuke. I’ll still hold out hope (trying to be optimistic) that Bartholomew acted at a mediator.
There was this interesting tidbit (translated from Serbian) on the SOC website:
Maybe they’re waiting for Saturday/Sunday to announce they have received the Macedonians back into the fold.
I still think it’s strange that Serbia hasn’t said anything regarding the matter, two other Churches, Russia & Bulgaria, have. Even on the Church of Serbia official website nothing has been said. If I remember right when Bartholomew invaded Ukraine, Russia issued a swift rebuke. I’ll still hold out hope (trying to be optimistic) that Bartholomew acted at a mediator.
There was this interesting tidbit (translated from Serbian) on the SOC website:
Maybe they’re waiting for Saturday/Sunday to announce they have received the Macedonians back into the fold.