Traditionally this Mount Athos maintains good relations with the non-Athonian “governor”, and the organized monastic society has never interfered or even interfered in the political events of the secular world – at least visibly.

The monks, according to the unwritten holy law, do not share asceticism, do not politicize, are indifferent to the worldly. Rarely, no, one of them comes out justified to vote in elections, albeit as long as he has an electoral book. However, in these elections, for the first time, an attempt is made to openly involve racial society in the political equation. In fact, to the extent that the question arises in the public sphere whether there really is a holy parameter that can form correlations in ballot box.

Claims

It all started with a pre-election statement by its head victory party, teacher and graduate of the Theological School of Dimitriou Natsios, that on the way to the ballot box his education has (also) the “spiritual cover” of Mount Athos. For his audience, Oper was interpreted as Nika having received the blessing of Mount Oros, and for some as his political expression outside of Athos.

The truth is that although Holy Community conveys in all tones that Oros has nothing to do with a particular formation, like with anyone else, Mr. Natsios and his party have developed a network of contacts in the fundamentalist wing of the Athos state, which is now also used in elections.

What are the key monasteries – “They all spoil the image of Mount Athos. The mountain does not interfere” in the elections, a member of the Holy Community tells K.

The block of pro-Russian and anti-patriarchal monasteries (Filotheos, Karakallos, Konstamonitou, Xiropotamos), in which religious fanaticism prevails, and in the context of the epidemic they closed their doors to vaccinated pilgrims, supposedly strengthens Nika’s election campaign. largely coinciding in the views of its leader with the views of the zealots on Athos.

Next to Mr. Natsios, a figure especially famous in church organizations, the monk Euthymios of Kapsala, who lives in a cell near Caries, from where he transmits oracles to the outside society through his fanatical followers and the Internet. believers.

Influence tool

Gerontism acts as a first-class effective tool for influencing and manipulating the minds of believers, as in this case the holy “channel” of hunting for the votes of Mr. Natsios.

“A monk has the right to address believers only spiritually. Any other practice is a defilement of spiritual relationships. The matter got out of control during the epidemic, when anti-vaccination monks informed the common people through letters and phone calls of the old man’s “desire” not to be vaccinated through their spiritual children who came on pilgrimage. For these people, the “desire” of the elder means obedience. Unfortunately, now, in the same way, some are engaged in luring votes in favor of the party, allegedly passing on the blessing of the elder. They spoil the image of the Holy Mount Athos, every single one. Oros does not interfere in politics.” commented “K” a member of the Holy Community.

The information reported that the same circles inside and outside Athos regarding its transfer image of Axion Esti from Karyes to Athens, they insisted that, on her return en route, she stop at the site of the accident at Tempi and that the members of the Holy Community accompanying her hold a memorial service for the dead on the spot. . In fact, ecclesiastical and other secular organizations from across the country were put on alert to turn the ceremony into an anti-government rally ahead of the election.