[Preegovesem]

The Union of Orthodox Citizens (SPG) spoke in support of Archimandrite Ephrem, the abbot of Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos. An official statement passed to Interfax on Thursday stated, “The SPG is concerned about the condition of Igumen Ephrem, a contemporary confessor of Orthodoxy, the abbot of Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos, as he’s persecuted by the Greek authorities”. The SPG went on to say that Fr Ephrem brought the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God, one of the greatest Orthodox relics, to Russia, where more than three million people venerated it in about a month’s time. They stated, “Igumen Ephrem has repeatedly said that the Russian people now returning to the Church are the future of world Orthodoxy. It seems like the words and mission of Fr Ephrem in Russia were the true reason for his persecution, all the other absurd charges, such as the land deal between the monastery and the Greek government, are only an excuse”. The SPG regards the case against Fr Ephrem as a response of “anti-Russian and anti-Orthodox forces who challenge the unprecedented and essential turning of our society and our state to their spiritual roots”. This is from a Russian news site; it suggests that some Russians think it's all part of an EU/western [they missed out 'masonic'] plot agianst Orthodoxy. Who knows - there may be something in it.