[clorkergo]

Esphigmenou Monks Acquitted by Court

http://www.esphigmenou.com/

(NFTU) The Third Court of Appeals in Thessaloniki, Greece announced their
decision and found no evidence that the Esphigmenou Monks were guilty of the
charge of disturbing the peace. The incident took place back in 2005. Some
of the incident was video taped by the Esphigmenou Monks, and it clearly
shows a violent attack perpetrated "on them" and "not by them". The sinister
attack on the monks of Esphigmenou with a sledgehammer made news around the
world and video of it (see below) aired showing the shocking details. It was
clearly an embarrassment for not only the Greek Government and Patriarch
Bartholomew but also all those who opposed Esphigmenou. The over zealous
prosecutor in Thessalonki, however, thought it a good idea to pursue
charges. No charges shockingly enough were ever brought upon the
sledgehammer wielding monks outside but only to the defenseless Esphigmenou
monks held up behind the locked wooden door.

[Marat]

Esphigmenou Monks Acquitted by Court

http://www.esphigmenou.com/

I posted this to a friend and this was his response:

Whenever I hear the media beat up the news regarding Mt Athos, I tend to think that there is an agenda involved in causing scandal. Even in visiting Mt Athos, you can see that some of the tourists visitors do not go there for the right reasons. The EU is certainly putting a lot of money into Athos, and the place is changing very quickly. It is no longer the place it used to be, detached from the world. Esphigmenou is a great monastery. I haven’t been to it, but I have a feeling it is being persecuted because they are not willing to compromise on fundamental things which all of us have been entrusted with.