“How was church property acquired? Selling God with the eight. With false miracles, tours of relics and relics that no one knows if they are real, but naive believers pay for them in gold.
*In the main photo, the monastery of Osiou Avvakum that shocked the whole of Greece with false miracles and rosy stories of monks.
By Katerina Iliadi
The miracle of miracles of the Orthodox Christians has been, for centuries now, the Touch of the Holy Light (systematic reports exist from about the 9th century) – a ceremony, a “miracle” and with serious geopolitical ramifications, but that is a topic for another report. At noon on Holy Saturday, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem enters alone inside the Holy Sepulcher (in Jerusalem) and comes out with a Holy Light, which lights up inside the Sepulcher in a “miraculous” way and is accompanied by supernatural properties: it does not burn, does not go out … And all this, on live TV broadcast in many Orthodox countries/regions. The Holy Light is transported to Greece, Cyprus and elsewhere by flights – sometimes chartered by businessmen/investor sponsors – and it is received with honors of heads of state: ministers, hierarchs, officials… red carpets.
“They spread the truth”
In March 2019, the journalist-researcher, Dimitris Alikakos, published his very interesting book “Redemption – About the Holy Light”, Ekremes Publications, with which he directly questioned the magical process by which the Holy Light is lit and with irrefutable evidence solve the riddle of riddles, providing answers to the how and the why. He was spoken to by the protagonists of the “miracle”, those who prepare it and carry it out: Isidoros, the custodian of the Holy Sepulcher, Aristarchus, the Archbishop of Constantine, Theophilos III, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the former Archbishop of Ascalon, Nikiforos, and others. Among other things, Alikakos describes in his book his conversation with Patriarch Theophilos III: “- I recently noticed that you changed the text about the ceremony of the Holy Light on the website of the Patriarchate and replaced it with another one, which does not make any sense anywhere for 'miracle'. – Yeah, that text wasn't supposed to be there, I don't know how it got in there. – Yes, but the new text does not speak of a miracle. – But the Patriarchate does not talk about a miracle! The word comes from 'to admire]. What can it have to do with a sacred ceremony? […] 'And since it is not a miracle, then how does the Holy Light light up?'”. The journalist talks to Isidoros, the custodian of the Holy Sepulcher: “You told me that the candlestick goes out and the Patriarch knows this too. Welcome to here. Then how do the candles of the Patriarch light from an extinguished candlestick? Where does the Holy Light come from?' Silence. 'Your honor, you must answer me'. Silence. 'Your honor, please tell me, what Christian logic says that you should let a man be tormented by a 'miracle', which is 'theologically not a miracle', as you said? When did Christ teach that we should refuse to tell the truth to him who seeks it?” The answer given by the venerable Isidore has, as the author describes it, the tone of crushing. “I noticed his eyes were wet, they were watery.” [More here: Dimitris Alikakos about the Holy Light (youtube.com), Historical testimony – Documentary: “Holy Light: there is no miracle in the ceremony” (youtube.com) , Holy Light. The truth. “Shall we say it on camera?” (youtube.com), Revelation: The Inconvenient Truth About Holy Light | Protagon.gr].
He is being voted innocent!
On the occasion of his said book, Dimitris Alikakos had legal adventures that lasted five years. The day before yesterday Friday (29/3/2024), the Three-member Criminal Court of Athens found him not guilty, as well as the manager of the Ekremes publishing house, after a lawsuit filed against them by the Archbishop of Constantine Aristarchos and the Archbishop of Hierapolis Isidoros, for defamation of him Press, serially and serially, violation of privacy of private conversation and violation of personal data law. The court ruled that the disputed video in which Archbishop Isidoros, commissioner of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, appears to cover the way of Touching the Holy Light during the Holy Saturday ceremony, is true. The two candlesticks are lit inside the Tomb by the hand of the custodian. Two days before, the lawsuits filed by the two main aggressors against Dimitris Alikakos, in which they demanded monetary satisfaction and compensation for various civil torts, were also dismissed (statement by Alikakos' lawyer – Pending on avgi.gr). The journalist dedicated his justification to the memory of his priest father, who lived to see the attempt to drag him away, and was bitter, but did not live to see the joy of his child, as he characteristically mentions in his Facebook post. Dimitris Alikakos deals with the control of news and disinformation in the field of information (fake news), he is the editor-in-chief of Hellenic Hoaxes. [Trial for Agios Fos/The journalist Alikakos was acquitted by the Three-member Criminal Court of Athens | Avgi (avgi.gr)].
Dimitris Alikakos was vindicated in court for what he writes in his book about the Touch of the Holy Light in Jerusalem (that it is not a miracle).
“Abbakum” scandal
In Cyprus now, the public debate on the subject of “pseudo-miracles” opened at the beginning of March with what was revealed (and continues to be revealed) that took place in the monastery of Osiou Avvakum in Fterikoudi. The hidden cameras recorded the whole truth regarding the pseudo-miracle of the… myrrh that was supposed to be emanating from the Cross of Saint Porphyry used by the monks of the monastery to “work miracles” with the indemnity. More than €800,000 was found in a Monastery safe – hidden cameras caught monks in the act trying to 'disappear' it when they realized they had been sniffed out and a raid was about to follow. [MONI ABVACUM – THE LIVING MIRACLE (youtube.com)]
The “living” miracle in the monastery of St. Avvakum as recorded by hidden cameras and published by the “Politis” website.
Wonder Industry
The (pseudo)miracle industry is very profitable and in Cyprus, the Church of Cyprus is the biggest “business” on the island. The former Archbishop of Cyprus, Chrysostomos II, who passed away last November (7/11/2023), had stated to George Papadakis and Antenna Hellados (21/3/2013) that the property of the Archdiocese of Cyprus is over 2 billion . euros, while that of the monasteries and metropolitans is much larger than that of the Archdiocese [(95) enikos.gr – “How much is the property of the Church of Cyprus – YouTube“. b>“How was this property acquired? Selling God with the eight. With pseudo-miracles, tours of relics and relics that no one knows if they are real, but naive believers pay for them in gold. And with uncontrolled fundraisers. We have come to the point of worshiping Saints and Saints' slippers… brand new and embroidered with gold. The people of Cyprus have been giving money and property to the Church for centuries now, believing that in this way they secure not only a place in Heaven, but a place close to Christ, God. The Cypriot also wants special treatment… Don't forget that during the Turkish occupation, Greeks of Cyprus transferred huge properties to the Church either to prevent them falling into the hands of the Ottomans or because they believed that this way they would save them, i.e. they would take them back after the liberation of the island, something that certainly didn't happen” said a person very close to the Church, who spoke to “P” on the condition of anonymity. Asked why he doubts the authenticity of the holy relics, he listed some shocking examples of Saints “whose limbs and body are dismembered, and various monasteries possess them and use them to treasure.” And we don't know if they are really the members of the particular Saints, he continued, adding that in some cases there are “more than one right hand or left hand”. >
The Church of Cyprus is not satisfied, however, only with these. He also does other jobs (banks, hotels) and “jobs” that bring him a lot of income. What to remember first: The sand that was “stolen” by a hierarch, the foreign investor-king of porn, the cementing of the Sacred Gardens of Aphrodite in Geroskipou, the plots of land allocated for “holy” election campaigns, the golden microphones, the haute couture robes , the “holy” limousines, the tick relatives – the party is over. For the very close State-Church relations, one does not have to go very far back in time, just the case of Joe Lowe with the “golden” express passport [which politician and/or civil servant dared to say “no” to the Archbishop or go with the normal procedures (time-consuming)] and the donation of 300,000 euros by our internationally wanted Malaysian “compatriot” to the… School of Theology. On 24/1/2021, the former Archbishop of Cyprus had stated in Paphos that the contribution received for the Theological School by a naturalized Malaysian has not been spent and will gladly be returned to his country if requested. He also said that the land developer who had sold Mr Lowe the mansion, which was built on Archdiocese land, had asked him to send a note to the minister to push forward with securing a passport. He added that it is neither the first time that I have sent letters to ministers, nor the last time […] He also explained that his interest “was because the plot of land on which the said gentleman's mansion was built belonged to the Archdiocese and since the developer had no money to pay, I myself signed as a representative of the Archdiocese” [KYPE].
How audacious!
Second, a recent example, the Metropolis of Constantia wrote on the oldest of its shoes the laws and regulations of our country, and started the construction of a monastery in the Natura area of ​​Cape Greco. As stated in a publication of “Φ” dated 23/3/2024, “on 19/3/2024, the Department of Environment investigated an incident of arbitrary interventions and illegal constructions within two areas of the Natura 2000 network, the Special Conservation Zone (SZZ) and Cape Greco Special Protection Zone (SPZ). The investigation revealed arbitrary earthworks and illegal construction works for the construction of a monastery, on a plot of land owned by the church, which belongs to the Holy Metropolis of Constantia – Famagusta. According to the Department of the Environment, the above actions are carried out without the required environmental approvals and planning/building permits”. Ten days later, we saw on our TV receivers that the “holy” work was continuing and even that the construction of the monastery had begun – where does this audacity come from? [They continue the illegal construction of a monastery in Cabo Greco | Liberal | Philenews].
The Metropolis of Constantia does not obey the laws of our country and started the construction of a monastery in the Natura area of ​​Cabo Greco.
Church – State Relations
The Church of Cyprus has always had good relations with conquerors, feudal lords, dignitaries, politicians, businessmen of this place. During the Anastasiades administration, we had a minister of education (Education!) and a throne commissioner. During the Christodoulidis administration, the Minister of Justice is a throne commissioner in the Diocese of Limassol and is called, as the political head of the prosecuting authorities, to unravel the scandal of the St. Avvakum monastery. The former Chief of Police, as well as the president of the far-right ELAM, were also throne commissioners in the Diocese of Tamasos. The enthroned commissioners of the Diocese of Constantia and Famagusta – even members of the AKEL Central Committee [The new AKEL Central Committee was elected – AKEL (akel.org.cy) b>]: Yannis Karousos, Dr. Simos Ioannou, Theodoros Pyrillis, George Takkas, Andros Karagiannis, Christos Zannettou, Zina Lysandros Panagidis, Theodoros Takkas, Michalis Tziortas, Dimitrios Skaros, Adamos Hatzichristodoulou, Georgios Karoullas, Vasilios Nikolaidis and Panagiotis Konstantinou [by her website Diocese: Administration – Holy Diocese of Constantia and Famagusta | Diocese Of Constantia – Ammochostos (imconstantias.org.cy)].
Wanted… Useful (from useful)
It is time to put a check on all this. Obviously. But the one who will do it is required. And it doesn't have to be Jesus Christ to take the flagellum (a kind of whip) and drive the merchants out of the “temple”. Simpler things can be done. Audit of fundraisers, ban on tours of “miraculous” relics, carbon-14 testing of relics – at least let's know if the age of the bones worshiped by the myriads falls within the period the aspirants place them. Yes, primarily this is a job of the Church. However, since the Church does not want to take it on and hides it under the carpet, the time has come for the State to take on this responsibility, some argue. The current Archbishop makes many positive statements, he did not (under)accept Agia Zoni in the Archdiocese, during her recent tour in Cyprus and he did not let the icons “weep” in his metropolis (Paphos), however for the time being he does not seem willing to take a historic initiative to cut the golden spells. The President of the Republic promotes the image of a devout Christian at every opportunity – a recent example, his visit to Mount Athos in the week that the personal envoy for the Cyprus issue of the UN Secretary General came to Cyprus and it was being done come and see in relation to the case of the monastery of St. Avvakum with the involvement of hooded policemen, etc. The president of the Parliament and president of the largest (still) party in the country, roughly the same as the President. There are few exceptions in the political system that think, and mostly dare and speak, rationally – the Enlightenment in Cyprus is still too late. John the Forerunner
Also very interesting is the study by the Professor of Hagiology, Antonios Markos, entitled “Holy Relics – Pilgrim's Guide”, published on the website of the Center for Hagiological Research “Saint Simeon the Translator”. From the part of the said study, where each Saint is presented alphabetically, we publish two characteristic excerpts concerning the relics of the Apostle Andrew the Protocletos (1st century) and John the Prodromos (1st century).
< b>Apostol Andreas
The chariot and a finger in the homonymous temple of Patras. Detachment of a cart in the eponymous Skete of Karion on Mount Athos. Much of the relics in the Roman Catholic Church of the same name in Amalfi, Italy. Part of the left in the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Slaves in Venice. The right foot in the homonymous monastery of Kefallinia. Large fragment of the right foot, fragment of the foot and fragments of the right foot in the Pantokratoros monastery of Mount Athos. The right palm in the monastery of Agios Nikolaos, Galataki, Evia. A finger in the homonymous church of Loutraki in Corinth. Detachments in the monasteries of Magnificent Lavra, Dionysiou, Agios Panteleimonos, Zografou, Dochiario, Carakalos, Xenophontos and Konstamonitos on Mount Athos, in the monastery of Kykkos in Cyprus and in the Lavra of the Holy Triad – Saint Sergius of Moscow and Saint Alexander Nevsky of Saint Petersburg, in the church of Saint George of of Greek Venice and in the cathedral of Riga.
The shin and the right palm of Apostle Andreas as they arrived at Larnaca airport on 25/11/2023, from the holy monastery of Pantokrator on Mount Athos.
John the Forerunner
Places of interest in the monastery of Diochiario on Mount Athos, the Great Mosque of Damascus and the Top Kapi museum in Constantinople. Part of the jaw “after three teeth” in the Stavronikita monastery of Mount Athos. The right uncorrupted one in the monastery of Dionysios on Mount Athos. Detachment of the right in the Metropolis of Mavrovouni. The left one in the Topkapi museum of Istanbul. The pointer of the right in the Vatopedi monastery of Mount Athos. Part of the left in the monastery of Meg. Meteoros. Four sections in the monastery of Dionysios of Mount Athos. Section of the left “after blood” in the monastery of Makrynos Megaron. Fragments in the monasteries of Iberon, Pantokrator and Holy Trinity – Saint Sergius in Moscow and Saint Alexander Nevsky in Saint Petersburg, in the homonymous church of Tournai in France and in the church of Saint George of the Greeks of Venice. His “braid” in the monastery of Taxiarhon in Aegialia. [read more at: “Where are the relics of all the Saints of our Orthodoxy preserved” | Agios Kosmas the Aetolos (wordpress.com)].
The index finger of the right hand of John the Forerunner kept in the holy monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos.
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What happens to Saint Spyridon's slippers?
On October 24, 2022, thetoc.gr website published a revealing photo report by Dimitris Alikakos about the slippers of Saint Spyridon, which were different in each church! In the title of the report, in fact, there was the sarcastic remark: “They are different in every church because… it spoils them”. What happens; The reporter wonders. And he gives the explanation given by ecclesiastical circles: “Saint Spyridon many times comes out of his church in Corfu, which is his relic, and goes around the sea and the land, to do good and help those who invoke him. That's why he ruins his shoes, and they are forced to change them every now and then”, writes the church website Dogma. And Dimitris Alikakos comments: “As you can see, the universe is full of (retired) slippers of Saint Spyridon (if you search you will find others), as the old ones, worn out by the Saint's… walking, are given to temples and monasteries. But the believer thinks he is worshiping that authentic one, the first one (which of course does not exist). And concluding, Dimitris Alikakos, after recommending a good slipper to the faithful that will last, a slipper similar to those exhibited for pilgrimage and which the “Mount Athos” bookstore has, especially for the pilgrimage of the Saint, notes: “The rest don't look for them… You will be bitter. Or you'll laugh.” [What happens to Saint Spyridon's slippers? – In every church it is… | Greece News (thetoc.gr)].
In Corfu, as the footwear of Saint Spyridon, the following slipper is presented:
The same slipper, when it arrives in Kozani, has been transformed:
The Saint's slipper is different when it is presented in the monastery of Saint Danilov in Moscow:
When the Saint's slipper is presented at the monastery of Saint Hierarch Spyridon, the miracle worker in Straba, Romania, he has other plans:
And the same thing happens with the Saint's shoe when it is displayed in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin in Romania:
