VVP does have friends on Athos… and some of the fathers are friends with him… fancy that…
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Click here for first-class reportage on the situation from a solid Greek source (hat tip to my Kitchen Cabinet member who passed on the intel… thank you, dear). The Holy Community passed the good word on what it called “irresponsible reports” in the media of strains that might lead to an alleged break in relations between the Mountain and the Greek state. In particular, the Athonite fathers said, “It’s necessary to state to all concerned that the Holy Mountain’s an integral part of the Greek state, it does its best to engage constructively and fruitfully with the Greek government for the resolution of its problems”.
If you read the above statement carefully, it’s clear what happened (these are Greeks who like embedding “secret messages” in their communications). No doubt, there was a dust-up with the Greek state over taxation of property. After the usual round of Greek palavering and bargaining (the Greeks ARE the most Levantine of the Levantines), accompanied by much ritual “stamping the ground” and the expected loud arguing, it’s clear that the Mountain and the state came to a mutually-agreeable compromise (that’s how things normally happen in Greece). Obviously, the state caved… it’s got bigger things on its plate at present. I don’t think that the Mountain wanted to secede, but it’s not without the realm of possibility that it did use the threat of such to advance its submission.
However, don’t forget this… the Mountain doesn’t have any road links to Greece proper… it COULD declare independence and ask for Russian support. VVP IS close with the Athonite fathers… as are Yanukovich and the male members of the British royal house. Secession isn’t an impossibility… it’s simply not expedient for the moment. It’s one of the options of the Holy Community, to be sure. Time will tell us…
Barbara-Marie Drezhlo
Wednesday 16 May 2012
Albany NY
Voices from Russia 
16 May 2012. Fathers on the Mountain Pour Cold Water on Secession Rumours… Was There Some Fire Amidst All the Sparks and Smoke?
Tags: Christian, Christianity, Eastern Orthodox Church, EU, European Union, Greece, Greek, Greek government, Holy Community, Holy Mountain, Mount Athos, Orthodox, Orthodoxy, political commentary, politics, Politics of Greece, Religion, Religion and Spirituality
VVP does have friends on Athos… and some of the fathers are friends with him… fancy that…
______________________________
Click here for first-class reportage on the situation from a solid Greek source (hat tip to my Kitchen Cabinet member who passed on the intel… thank you, dear). The Holy Community passed the good word on what it called “irresponsible reports” in the media of strains that might lead to an alleged break in relations between the Mountain and the Greek state. In particular, the Athonite fathers said, “It’s necessary to state to all concerned that the Holy Mountain’s an integral part of the Greek state, it does its best to engage constructively and fruitfully with the Greek government for the resolution of its problems”.
If you read the above statement carefully, it’s clear what happened (these are Greeks who like embedding “secret messages” in their communications). No doubt, there was a dust-up with the Greek state over taxation of property. After the usual round of Greek palavering and bargaining (the Greeks ARE the most Levantine of the Levantines), accompanied by much ritual “stamping the ground” and the expected loud arguing, it’s clear that the Mountain and the state came to a mutually-agreeable compromise (that’s how things normally happen in Greece). Obviously, the state caved… it’s got bigger things on its plate at present. I don’t think that the Mountain wanted to secede, but it’s not without the realm of possibility that it did use the threat of such to advance its submission.
However, don’t forget this… the Mountain doesn’t have any road links to Greece proper… it COULD declare independence and ask for Russian support. VVP IS close with the Athonite fathers… as are Yanukovich and the male members of the British royal house. Secession isn’t an impossibility… it’s simply not expedient for the moment. It’s one of the options of the Holy Community, to be sure. Time will tell us…
Wednesday 16 May 2012
Albany NY