Statement by the Saint Andrew the First-Called Foundation in connection with the situation around the Monastery of Vatopedi

The Saint Andrew the First-Called Foundation expresses its most profound concern inconnection with the decision by the Council of the Athens’ Court of Appeals to place inpreliminary detention the Father Superior of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi (MountAthos), Archimandrite Yefrem in pursuance of the case involving the trade of real estate betweenthe Monastery and the State. We regard the aforesaid actions by the judicial authorities of thecountry that by its Constitution regards itself as Orthodox as an impermissible step to politicizethe judicial decision. We consider that such judicial decisions may be explained only by thepolitical engagement of certain circles of the Greek establishment who wish, in this way, todemonstrate to the West their desire to depart from the principles of organizing spiritual life aslaid down in the Constitution of Greece. We express our special indignation over the fact that the actions of the judicial authoritiesare aimed at a spiritual leader, one of the most highly respected persons of Mount Athos, anelderly and ailing person. We address our words of support also to the Holy Synod, theEcumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, all Heads of local OrthodoxChurches, to all followers of the Orthodox faith to speak out in defense of Father SuperiorYefrem who is being persecuted in a manner that cannot be compared, in any way, to the formalcause of organizing the trial. It is with a feeling of profound bewilderment that the decision toplace Archimandrite Yefrem in detention was made soon after Father Superior Yefrem returnedfrom Russia to which he had brought one of the greatest Holy relics – the Belt of the VirginMary – that is preserved in the Monastery of Vatopedi - a relic which with the help of the SaintAndrew the First-Called Foundation more than three-and-a-half million of our countrymen hadkissed the glass-covered Holy relic. We a profoundly concerned with the fate of this man whomwe love so dearly and these feelings of ours are shared by millions of followers of the Orthodoxfaith. The Saint Andrew the First-Called Foundation firmly believes that the property disputebetween the Vatopedi Monastery and the Greek Government should be settled objectively andwithout bias. The drastic juridical action against Father Superior Yefrem can only arouserevulsion and contempt of the entire Orthodox society in Russia which had demonstrated itsunity during the visit of the Belt of the Virgin Mary. We call upon the Greek authorities and the public to demonstrate their solidarity and tothwart the unjustified and unmotivated decision to place in detention a man who by the force ofhis mission and his spiritual principles has never shunned Greek justice since his absoluteconviction of the righteousness of his stand. It is our firm demand not to allow the trampling ofthe principles of an honest, objective and democratic court of law. We and the Greeks are united by spiritually kindred bonds and the historical origins ofOrthodoxy. It is always with a feeling of sincere joy and happiness that we view the achievementof our spiritual brethren and it is with pleasure that we visit Greece as the bearer of the historicaland spiritual traditions of Byzantium. We have always taken close to heart those troublesomesituations that have come up in Greece, but we also urge the people of Greece to demonstratetheir unity in the face of trials and tribulations, and not to allow the washing out of the spiritualfoundations of the life of society. December 24, 2011