Athonite monks criticize monastery land deals in letter to Parliament

A 10-page letter, written by monastics at the Peribolio Monastery in Mt. Athos, was sent to the 300 deputies of the Greek Parliament on Thursday September 25. The letter sharply criticizes the abbot of the Mt. Athos Vatopedio Monastery, Efraim Koutsou, accusing him of expelling old monks and appropriating their assets, in addition to seizing invaluable heirlooms as well as grants meant for the renovation of monastery cells. The letter also refers to the founding of an investment company by the abbot, involvement and ties between monks and politicians, the complicity shown by Mt. Athos political governors, and the use of monitoring systems.

In an announcement issued at today’s extraordinary double convocation of monastery delegates, Mt. Athos monks issued an apology to the Greek people for all the problems created by the Vatopedio Monastery case. The Mt. Athos monks did not mention Abbot Efraim by name, but made indirect references to his activities. As they said, the exchange of properties between the monastery and the Greek state is an issue for the Greek justice system to review, however, they clarified that Mt. Athos agrees to all legal procedures for restoration of irregularities concerning economic transactions.

In the meantime, Vatopedio Monastery lawyers have sent a letter to the Agricultural Development Ministry asking for the recall of the Bisthonida land sale as part of efforts to deescalate tension. In its response, the Agricultural Development Ministry said that the relevant case has been referred to Justice and sent the letter to Supreme Court Prosecutor G. Sanidas and to the Greek Public Real Estate Corporation.

Meanwhile, a judicial investigation into this case continues. Metropolitan Panteleimon of Xanthi and the former president of Xanthi Bar Association Thanasis Xinidis made their statements to Prosecutor Elias Koliousis today.