Monk Moses the Athonite: ”Scandal” for me is the non-unity of Holy Mount Athos

Moses monk, the well known intellectual, has given an interview to the 24hour ecclesiastical news agency “Romfea.gr”. We have visited his cell at Saint Panteleimon Skete of the Holy Mount Athos.

Elder Moses, speaking to the Director of “Romfea.gr”, Mr. Emilios Poligenis, gives substantial answers on issues which refer to the Holy Mountain, the professor Christos Giannaras, the Vatopedi case and the Abbot Efrem, the financial crisis and the Patriarch’s liturgy at Panayia of Sourmela monastery. The interview went on as follows: read more…

The blessed Elder Joseph of Vatopedi (1921-2009). The Elder of our hearts (part a)

It has been a year today since the passing away of our blessed Elder and spiritual father from earth towards the Heaven. In many synaxaria we also read this: “ If you want to call me ‘father’ you must imitate my life and my deeds”. If however,we cannot imitate him, let us at least remember his conforting words, his love and his advice, his efforts and his trials, his infinite patience but mostly his merciful attitude, his tolerance, his charity, his total respect for the personalities of each and everyone of us in his struggle for perfection and spiritual transformation.

We have chosen some specific pieces from his writings and his advice which show the richness and the wonder of his fatherly heart, his merciful attitude and the magnitude of his fatherly embrace which was roomy enough to engulf everyone and everything, in an abundance of love.

An exclusive interview by the Abbot of the Great and Holy Monastery of Vatopedi, Elder Efrem (16 May 2010)

to Yianna Papadakou

“Our meeting in 2006 was an initiative by Karamanlis”

Father Efrem unleashes both fire and meaningful messages against members of the Karamanlis government in an interview with the Kyrakatiki (Sunday) Elefterotypia, shortly before the final verdict of the investigating committee for the Vatopedi scandal.

He reveals that it was the then Prime Minster Karamanlis who had the initiative to meet with him at the Holy Mount Athos back in July 2006!However, he insists that the only subject of the discussion was the creation of the ‘Saint Gregorios Palamas’ Foundation. But, he avoids connecting the establishment of the Foundation at the Olympic land, even though its building plans had been in place since 2006, something the then Prime Minister knew about. read more…

An open ended interview with monk Arsenios of Vatopedi (Sunday 16 May 2010)

by Sotiris Stathopoulos

Why did you make a statement to the investigating committee at this time?

In 2008, both Elder Efrem and I, just attended the investigative committee and handed over a memo, in which we had asked not testify as witnesses. They had then told us to wait outside. Eventually, we had left the building, under the impression that the committee had agreed not ask us to give a statement. Two years later though, today, when so many people continue to twist the truth, we decided that it is crucial that our position which is the only truth, be heard. All this time, so many things have been said about us without our permission, and we had been witnessing an unprecedented smear campaign which defamed the image of the Great and Holy Monastery of Vatopedi and its mission. read more…