Persecution of Mount Athos' Esphigmenou Monastery by the EP
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drewmeister2
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drewmeister2
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Fr. Panagiotes
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The BBC documentary on the Monastery of Esphigmenou and footage of the attempt by Patriarch Bartholomew's henchmen to break down the door of the Esphigmenou administrative centre in Karyes is now on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDvxAw5Y-rw
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Priest Siluan
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joasia
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The monks want to preserve an Orthodox rule that is even beyond our worldly understanding. What I mean is that they have strict ways of life in the faith than we do.
People may think that the monks are living in extremes;that their view of Orthodoxy is extreme and to the point of fanatic. But, that is understandable, considering that we, in the world, don't preserve that spiritual discipline.
They live the traditions of the monks of passed centuries. Nowadays, the other monasteries are so much more liberal, but we need only to read the lives of monk saints to get a glimpse of how they lived their lives. It was very strict. And now, in our modern days, this way of strictness seems fanatical.
And the fact that they live the dogmatic faith as if 1000 years ago, makes them seem like they are judging others because they don't want to compromise. Why should they? They, who live in that monastery. They aren't forcing it on others. So why are others forcing them to change their ways, in order to be more liberal?
Anyone who goes to this monastery, who is spiritually immature and incapable of absorbing the lifestyle and traditional beliefs that they live by, will come away, considering them fanatics.
They won't be able to see that these monks are strict because of their faith(which we in the world struggle with because of our lazy souls), but they will think that the monks are judging others because they won't accept modern views of spirituality. How can we appreciate what they live, if we just go for a visit? But, we go for a visit and then judge those who have lived there for years...and criticize their counsellings.
The narrow and main way is the only road to God's Kingdom and no amount of detours will lead us back to the the main road. We have to accept the rough and straight way because many detours lead us off to a dead end. The detours are an easier path, but after a long detour, we may forget how to get back to the main road; or we may even forget about the road, all together.
In Christ, Joanna
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Ps. 50)
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Euthymios
IT WAS SAID: The monks were ordered expelled for rejecting the authority of Eastern Orthodox leadership. Members of the monastery condemned church leaders for holding talks with Roman Catholics as part of a long-running effort to reconcile the two main branches of Christianity.
MY RESPONSE: Roman Catholicism is not a branch of Christianity. There are no branches. There is only the Church -- and one at that.
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Euthymios