His All Holiness' insistence is clear: Mount Athos cannot fully breathe spiritually until this schismatic and illegal occupation is resolved. And he has placed part of the responsibility for that failure squarely on the shoulders of the Greek state.  His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Abbot Bartholomew of the canonical Esfigmenou Brotherhood walk together in solemn witness, just steps away from the site of a recent attempted homicide and past Molotov cocktail attack — a moment of unity and steadfast faith amid escalating tensions caused due to the inept Greek government. More recent comments by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew March 22, 2022 “Να εφαρμοστούν οι αποφάσεις των ελληνικών δικαστηρίων το ταχύτερον δυνατόν.” (“That the decisions of the Greek courts be enforced as soon as possible.”) voria.gr+12romfea.gr+12skai.gr+12 April 2022 “Να εκκενωθεί από την σχισματική αδελφότητα.” (“To be evacuated from the schismatic brotherhood.”) orthodoxia.info March 2023 “Η επίλυση του προβλήματος Εσφιγμένου θα είναι επ’ αγαθώ πάντων.” (“The resolution of the Esphigmenou problem will be for the good of all.”) orthodoxianewsagency.gr+14skai.gr+14iefimerida.gr+14 April 5, 2024 “είναι πράγματι προκλητικόν και απογοητευτικόν … ανεφάρμοστες και ανεκτέλεστες … ενός κράτους δικαίου …” (“…it is truly provocative and disappointing … unenforced and unexecuted … by a rule-of-law state…”) esphigmenou.gr April 14, 2024 (video) “Ξανά στο Άγιον Όρος μόνο για την Μονή Εσφιγμένου.” (“Again to Mount Athos only for the Monastery of Esphigmenou.”) youtube.com+8youtube.com+8emakedonia.gr+8 September 17, 2024 “…η Μονή Εσφιγμένου […] είναι μία πληγή στο σώμα του … Αγίου Όρους, της κανονικής τάξεως της εκκλησίας.” (“…the Monastery of Esphigmenou […] is a wound on the body of … Mount Athos, of the canonical order of the Church.”) esphigmenou.gr+1emakedonia.gr+1 November 8, 2024 “Η κατάσταση στο Άγιον Όρος δεν είναι ευχάριστη.” (“The situation on Mount Athos is not pleasant.”) romfea.gr October 29, 2024 Although not a direct quote, the Patriarch received the abbot of Esphigmenou at the Phanar, underlining his ongoing concern and dialogue emakedonia.gr+14orthodoxianewsagency.gr+14m.facebook.com+14. Article 105 of the Greek Constitution: Sacred Autonomy and State Responsibility The legal and spiritual autonomy of Mount Athos is enshrined in Article 105 of the Greek Constitution, which declares: “Mount Athos… is an autonomous part of the Greek State… under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate… No schismatics or heterodox may reside there.” This unique constitutional clause obligates the Greek government to:
 Greek Government Inaction: “A Breach of Constitutional Duty” Multiple statements from the canonical Esphigmenou brotherhood accuse the Greek Civil Governor of Athos and the Ministry of Citizen Protection of violating their responsibilities under Article 105: “The government refuses to act… The illegality is galloping, due to the complete inaction of the current administration… in violation of Article 105 of the Greek Constitution.” — Esphigmenou Brotherhood Statement, May 2023 “We denounce the Greek state’s indifference… toward its duty under the Charter of Mount Athos [Article 105].” — Public statement, August 2023 These charges have not been publicly refuted with detailed legal justification by the Greek authorities, nor has the government offered a timeline or mechanism for enforcing the rulings. Instead, officials have cited political caution, the difficulty of intervening in Mount Athos, and sometimes even electoral timing as reasons for delay.  Conclusion: Toward Liberation and Healing As the Holy Mountain nears a quarter-century of this unprecedented internal division, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s recent comments reveal both urgency and sorrow. His call is not merely legalistic—it is spiritual and pastoral: “This is not merely a legal problem. It is a wound—upon the Athonite body, upon the heart of Orthodoxy, and upon the very nature of ecclesial communion.” His remarks echo a profound desire to liberate Mount Athos not just physically, but spiritually, restoring unity, discipline, and holiness to this sacred peninsula. Whether the Greek state will rise to meet its constitutional and moral obligations remains to be seen. Further Reading & Sources:
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Ηλίας Δαμιανάκης Άρχων Μαΐστωρ της Μεγάλης του Χριστού Εκκλησίας AuthorBy the Grace of God Archon Elias Damianakis has ministered in the study of Holy Iconography since 1980. In his biography you can read about Elias' life and on his portfolio page you can see where he has rendered some of his hand painted iconography or visit the photo galleries to see some of his work. There is a complete list of featured articles, awards and testimonials which you can visit, as well as a list of notable achievements here below. Please contact Elias for more information or suggestions for this website, thank you and God Bless. 
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