For Immediate Release: July 29, 2013

Contact: John Rigas, Friends of Esphigmenou, comments@esphigmenou.com

CORRECTING THE RECORD ON THE ATTACKS TODAY AGAINST THE ESPHIGMENOU MONKS

ATHENS, GREECE -- Statement from John Rigas, President of Friends of Esphigmenou Monastery on Mt. Athos:

"I just spoke with one of the Esphigmenou monks, Father Sava, and want to correct the record about the ongoing attacks against the monastery today. 
This morning, a group of around 20 large armed men armed attacked the Esphigmenou monastery building in Karyes, Mt. Athos where the monks were engaged in quiet prayer.  This is the 12th day that the monastery has been under siege. The monks twice asked for the men to leave in peace after a city clerk attempted to serve them with eviction papers. Then the 20 large men attempted to smash their way into the monastery building with a construction bulldozer. As you can see in the video, uniformed Greek police stood around while a bulldozer attacked the property and attempted to smash down the front door:

This bulldozer came within 15 centimeters of killing a defenseless monk (who was behind the door and did sustain injuries) with its steel blade . 
Contrary to media reports, they did NOT throw any bombs. I specifically asked Fr. Sava about these alleged “bombs” and he said that they do not have bombs and did not throw any bombs. It appears Greek government officials are trying to cover up their complicity in these lawless and criminal activities by spreading false reports to media outlet now that their nefarious activity has been exposed.  The video of the attack shows that there is no evidence of bombs or aggressive action by the monks. 

 UPDATE: More than 80 armed Greek police currently surround monastery building filled with peaceful monks who only want to be left alone to pray. Now the government has cut off their water supply. The monks continue to pray for peace and ask for the prayers of the faithful and appeal to the Mother of God for protection.
 Monks at Esphigmenou have already died at the hands of the government due to lack of food, water and medical supplies. Now the government almost killed a monk today with a bulldozer. The Greek government needs to focus on getting its economy back on track -- wasting taxpayer Euros on persecuting innocent monks needs to stop today.” 

UPDATE: July 29, 2013:  ESPHIGMENOU MONASTERY PROPERTY UNDER ATTACK!! 
PLEASE CALL/EMAIL EVERYONE ON THIS LIST TO DEMAND THE GREEK GOVERNMENT STOP THESE VIOLENT ACTS AGAINST PEACEFUL MONKS.
 
1) Mr. Antonis Samaras Prime Minister of Greece    E-mail: dialogue@politicalforum.gr
Telephone 011-30-210-338-5491 (private office number)     Fax: 011-30-210-323-8129  
2) Mr. Venizelos Foreign Minister of Greece    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Telephone 011-30-210-368-1812 
Main number: 011-30-210-368-1000
Fax: 011-30-210-368-1433 5 Vassilissis, Sophias Av, 106 71 Athens, Greece
3) Patriarch Bartholomew
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
Tel: +90-212-635-4022 or +90-212-531-9670    Fax. +90-212-5349037  
Ask to speak to the Patriarch himself, and express your opposition to the unchristian embargo of Food, Medicine and Fuel to Esphigmenou Monastery on Mt Athos, and to the Patriarch's demand for the Monks eviction by the Greek Police.  
4) Civil Administration of Mount Athos (on the ground directing and enforcing the blockade).  Have not stood up to protest these unchristian and unlawful actions
Tel: 011-30-23770-23230   Fax: 011-30-23770-23290
5) Holy Community (Iera Epistasia) Acquiesced under enormous pressure from Patriarch to vote to evict monks and set up imposter monastery.
Fax: 011-30-23770-23315
6) Police in Daphni - local police enforcing blockade under orders from Civil Administration and Minister of Foreign Affairs.  
 tel/fax: 011-30-23770-23222 (call and ask to send a fax and they will turn on the machine)
7) Police in Karyes - local police enforcing blockade under orders from Civil Administration and Minister of Foreign Affairs.  They have seized, and continue to have in their possession, the monastery's tractor which is their only means of getting food.
tel: 011-30-23770-23212     fax: 011-30-23770-23260

July 29, 2013

Πράσινο φως κυβερνήσεως για αστυνομική επέμβαση στο κονάκι της Ιεράς Μονής Εσφιγμένου Αγίου Όρους;
Πληροφορίες θέλουν την Κυβέρνηση να έχει δώσει πράσινο φως για επέμβαση αστυνομική εναντίον μοναχών εντός Αγίου Όρους. Έχει αναλογιστεί η κυβέρνηση ότι θα ποτίσει με αίμα μοναχών το χώμα του Αγίου Όρους. Στο κονάκι εγκαταβιούμε εδώ και δεκαετίες έχουμε το δίκιο με το μέρος μας και σας παρακαλούμε να επαναφέρετε την ησυχία και την ηρεμία στο Όρος. Ας επέμβει η πολιτική ηγεσία να ηρεμήσει τα πνεύματα ... ΜΙΛΑΜΕ ΓΙΑ ΜΟΝΑΧΟΥΣ ΕΓΚΛΩΒΙΣΜΕΝΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΔΙΑΡΚΩΣ ΣΕ ΑΜΥΝΑ ΤΑ ΤΕΛΕΥΤΑΙΑ ΔΕΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΟΧΙ ΓΙΑ  ΕΓΚΛΗΜΑΤΙΕΣ ... ΕΛΕΟΣ
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Ιεράς Μονής Εσφιγμένου - Άγιο Όρος