Discussion about the various True Orthodox Churches around the world including current events. Subforums in other langauges, primarily English on the main forum.
Well in fact, "administrative center" does not really say MUCH !
I don't get a clear idea of what exactly the building functions as, reading even in English.
Is there a better term to be intelligible to for example, European readers who are closer at hand theoretically
and can do more to help defend the besieged monks ?
If I already am familiar with many historic Russian monasteries but don't know exactly what
an "administrative center" would do, then maybe their press department could take that as a yardstick for the average reader.
Is this setup one for all Greek monasteries ?? Or a Mt Athos arrangement ?
I have no idea, but I think it's useful to bring across clearly what building is surrounded, so we may comprehend
the seriousness of the peril the monk are in.
Not that it is not evident from the pictures. Those are positively nerve-wracking to see.
I really feel for them. I wonder if they have food to last the siege.
Well in Mount Athos, there is a town called Karyes where all monesteries have a sort of administrative center, let's say their office. It is in that place that the events are happening and not in the big monastery in itself...
In Ancient Greek, it would have been pronounced "Molon labe", with a "b" sound. Also, the two "o" would have been pronounced differently, which you can see since they are spelled with different letters.
Κaries is the capital of Mt Athos since the 10th century.
It the ancient times it was called "Mesi", which means "middle"
as it is in the middle of Mt Athos.
It is populated by roughly 230 - 240 people.
The central Church in Karies is called "Protato".
In the Protato is the miracle icon of Panagia Axion Esti (Mother of God it is Trully Meet).
There is a copy of that Icon in every Monastery.
Here is a video of when the icon was brought to the Church of Saint Dimitrios in Thessaloniki
so lay people outside of Athos can venerate it.
It was received with hounors of "Head of State".
I have also attached an image of the icon
In the year 1283, Latin Crusaders during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Michael Paleologos, attacked Mount Athos.
They tortured and hanged the Protos, and sacked the Protaton, murdering many of the monks.
These monks are commemorated as martyrs by the Orthodox Church on December 5 (οld calendar)
In Karies live the representatives of 19 of the 20 in total Monasteries of Mt Athos
(actually 21 if you also count the false Esfigmenou, aka Katsoulierides).
The buildings that the representatives (monks) live in are called Konakia (plural for Konaki)
The reason that there are 19 Konakia for 20 Monasteries (and not 20)
is because Koutloumousiou Monastery is just 5' away.
Karies is also 5' away from the Scete of St Andrew
Finally, in Karies you can also find the Post Office, a Police department,
a Medical Centre, a bakery, and shops with ecclesiastical goods and also some monk cells.
hope that helps
Alexandros
P.S. The The hymn in Greek for "Axion Esti" is:
Άξιον εστίν ως αληθώς
μακαρίζειν σε την Θεοτόκον,
την αειμακάριστον και παναμώμητον
και μητέρα του Θεού ημών.
Την τιμιωτέραν των Χερουβείμ
και ενδοξοτέραν ασυγκρίτως των Σεραφείμ
την αδιαφθόρως Θεόν Λόγον τεκούσαν,
την όντως Θεοτόκον,
Σε μεγαλύνομεν.
One translation of the hymn goes as follows:
It is truly right to bless thee, O Theotokos,
ever blessed, and most pure, and the Mother of our God.
More honorable than the cherubim,
and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim.
Without corruption thou gavest birth to God the Word.
True Theotokos, we magnify thee.
In Ancient Greek, it would have been pronounced "Molon labe", with a "b" sound. Also, the two "o" would have been pronounced differently, which you can see since they are spelled with different letters.
Back to Fr Siluan's comment about ROAC handing over Churches voluntarily rather than being besieged like here
was very interesting. Then the new ROAC Met Feodor's rejection of the MP demands
for the relics of the 2 Saints comes into perspective. Good for him ! Thank God they were able to keep the holy relics.
Standing up often helps make the bully back down.
Hope it will work here !
Seems the EU Parliament in Brussels should be addressed on this topic. I wish someone were equipped to do that.
Alexandros, that was so helpful to get the background as well as the images.
I didn't know the original Axion Estin Icon looks like that !
I watched the video with great interest.
It was nice to see the Cathedral of St Demetrios again. And great that the laity were able to venerate the Icon !
To think that each of the Athonite Monasteries has a copy.
Now it makes more sense what is being surrounded, after reading of the setup of Karyes.
