Athonite monks protest against Dumenko’s visit to the Holy Mountain

Those who received Dumenko’s delegation on Mount Athos. Photo: UOJ on Athos

A group of monks from Athonite monasteries and cells published an appeal on the UOJ on Athos platform sharply criticizing the visit of the head of the OCU, Serhii (Epifaniy) Dumenko, to the Holy Mountain. The authors urge that the abbots and hieromonks who welcomed Dumenko be excommunicated from communion and not admitted to liturgical services until they repent.

The appeal, issued on behalf of the “Athonite Kelliote Voice” and dated on the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, describes Dumenko’s visit as a “spiritual downfall” for the Holy Mountain. The monks note that although the majority of the Holy Community (the governing body of Athos) did not give its blessing for an official reception of the OCU leader, several monasteries nevertheless received him and allowed concelebration. “Capitulation and downfall have taken place… this is intolerable!!” the text declares.

Among the monasteries mentioned as having received Dumenko are Vatopedi, Iviron, Xenophontos, Pantokrator, Simonopetra, and the Skete of Prophet Elijah.

“The majority of the Holy Athonite Monasteries, which did not concelebrate with the schismatic and heretic Mr. Epifaniy Dumenko, are honor-bound to excommunicate from communion all Athonite abbots and hieromonks who took part in this,” the statement reads.

The authors cite Canon 2 of the Council of Antioch, which forbids communion with those cut off from the Church and requires the excommunication of anyone violating this rule.

“They must not be admitted to any Athonite liturgical service until they show true repentance… The clergy and the faithful must resist and oppose the ecumenists through their practical isolation,” the monks urge.

The appeal also quotes the Second Epistle of the Apostle John: “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting.” It also cites the words of Elder Gabriel, an Athonite monk from the Holy Cell of St. Christodoulos of Patmos: “Those monasteries that received the schismatics will not be saved! We must not go there!”

The authors warn of a “spiritual contagion” that, in their view, will spread “like spiritual gangrene through concelebrations and joint prayers.” “We do not want even a blessing from the abbots of those monasteries where the schismatic and heretic Mr. Epifaniy Dumenko served,” the document emphasizes.

A photograph attached to the statement shows representatives of both the ecclesiastical and civil administration of Mount Athos: Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletoupolis (representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate), Proto-Epistates Avva Avraam of Lavra (First Epistates of the Holy Mountain), Alkiviadis Stefanis (Civil Governor of Mount Athos), Hieromonk Gabriel “Katsouleris,” Epistates, and Monk Sisoes, Epistates of Xenophontos Monastery.

The monks also note that police prevented other Athonite monks from entering Karyes “for fear of their reaction to the presence of the schismatic.”

The appeal draws a parallel between Dumenko’s visit to Athos and events in Ukraine: “At the very time when they were concelebrating and praying together on the Holy Mountain, the servants of Mr. Epifaniy Dumenko were committing acts of violence in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, sawing through and cutting open the doors of holy churches and monasteries.”

As the UOJ previously reported, Dumenko claimed he could have come to Athos as head of the OCU but, out of humility, visited as a simple monk and pilgrim.

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