© The Friends of Mount Athos, 2012

http://www.pravoslavie.ru/news/50821.htm [Minimally edited machine translation provided by a FoMA member]

St. Andrew-the-First-Called Foundation announced a Christmas campaign in support of Igumen Ephraim Moscow, January 6, 2012

The St. Andrew-the-First-Called Foundation urges taking part in a Christmas campaign in support of Igumen Ephraim by sending him a greeting card for Christmas, which is celebrated on Mount Athos, as well as in Russia on January 7, reports RIA Novosti citing the press service of the Foundation. "The brethren of the monastery gave us the mailing address for " Koridallos "prison, where he is now held. We think that everyone who had contact with Fr. Ephraim, those owho came to venerate the Belt of the Theotokos, as well as all who cherish this holy man, may send him a Christmas postcard sold in any church counter or at post office".

The group "Let us greet Fr. Ephraim on the Nativity" was created in Facebook by St. Andrew-the-first-called Foundation staff. The address where you can send cards: Athens, Koridallas Jail, #3-5 Solomou St. Facebook indicates sites where you can send a real postcard to another country. According to Foundation representatives the greeting may be written in Russian.

"Our aim is not merely to greet Igumen Ephraim. Christmas cards can be sent even after Christmas, during the Christmas season. The main thing is to support the head of Vatopedi monastery in a difficult time," Foundation press secretary Alexander Gatilin said to RIA Novosti.

After the arrest of the head of Vatopedi, the Russian Foundation of St. Andrew-the-First-Called issued a statement urging Orthodox patriarchs and the public to support Archimandrite Ephraim. The Foundation which this Fall organized bringing the Belt of the Theotokos to Russia -- the belt is permanently stored in the Vatopedi monastery -- spoke about the "unacceptable politicization of a judicial decision." On Saturday, December 31, the Foundation organized picketing of the Moscow representative office of the European Union; this was done in support of the Igument of Vatopedi monastery.

In addition, concerns about the detention of Ephraim expressed by the Foreign Ministry, the Russian Orthodox Church, and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, were expressed to the President of Greece, Karolos Papoulias, requesting the release the detainee.

Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II and Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk also expressed concerns about the arrest of Ephraim Abbot.

"I ask you, all of you, to pray for Fr. Ephraim, that the Lord will free him. We hope that the Lord will hear our prayers. We are saddened by this event. This spiritual mentor, Father Ephraim is a person of high spirituality," said the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II at his New Year sermon, which appears on the Friends of Vatopedi site.

In turn, Metropolitan Filaret sent the Greek authorities a letter requesting the immediate release of Archimandrite Ephraim, and a "just and fair conclusion of this matter."

"We urge the people of Greece to show unity in the face of adversity and to prevent erosion of the spiritual foundations of society. We believe that Vatopedi Monastery and the monastic brethren will honorably overcome all difficulties and will always be the spiritual stronghold of his people" the Metropolitan said in this letter , cited in the RIA News. January 6, 2012

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