![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.aoiusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/ephraim.png\" "\\"ephraim\\"")
<\/a>Abbot Ephraim<\/p><\/div>The Vatopedi land deal (see: Beware of Greeks Bearing Bonds<\/a>) has resulted in the arrest and detainment of the Abbot of the Monastery of Vatopaidi Ephraim. It has also exacerbated tensions between Constantinople and Moscow. Constantinople was silent on the matter while Moscow was unequivocal in its condemnation of the arrest which they view as unnecessary and unjust. Constantinople broke it silence only recently with the press release copied below.<\/p>\n It is hard to draw any conclusions not knowing the particulars of the case but as a friend of mine mentioned to me earlier, criticism of the Greek Government for the arrest of Abbot Ephraim cannot be rightly constructed as “interference” in the canonical territory the Ecumenical Patriarchate. To Moscow, this is a matter of elementary justice, not administration. If, say, Moscow sprang the Abbott from jail and flew him to Russia, then Constantinople would have a point. But defending a man who quite likely is a pawn in the increasing conflict between the Greek State and the Church hardly seems the stuff of interference. Moscow is simply reminding the Greek Government the whole Orthodox world is watching — as indeed it is. <\/p>\n The press release is reprinted below followed by an article from Asia News outlining the conflict. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n HT: Mystagogy<\/a><\/p>\n Gathered today, 10 January 2012, under the presidency of His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Holy and Sacred Synod at this tactical conference, among other things, discussed the emerged issue of the imprisonment of the Abbot of the Monastery of Vatopaidi Ephraim.<\/p>\n Regarding this matter we communicate the following:<\/p>\n 1. The Ecumenical Throne and Its Holy and Sacred Synod express their sorrow for this shapening of the situation in relation to the decision of this matter.<\/p>\n 2. The Ecumenical Patriarchate, according to its tactical consistency, respects the independence of the Justice system, always avoiding every interference in pending court cases, since, after all, they are ignorant of the contents of the case files.<\/p>\n 3. The Ecumenical Patriarchate, in connection with statements expressed by sister Orthodox Churches in connection with this issue, recalls that the Holy Mountain, its canonical territory, is constituted of Orthodox monks from various nationalities, but this adds nothing to its Pan-Orthodox character by allowing any kind of interference within it by any Autocephalous Church.<\/p>\n At the Patriarchate, 10 January 2012<\/p>\n By the Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod<\/p>\n Source: Ecumenical Patriarchate<\/a>. Translated by John Sanidopoulos<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\u0395cumenical Patriarchate Denounces Russian Interference in the Ephraim Case<\/h1>\n