Regret for the results in the case of Vatopaidi were expressed today by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate reports among other things that it respects Justice and avoids any involvement in the affair, because they do not know, as they state, the contents of the case.
A Metropolitan of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, commenting to the press, talked about the indirect yet discreet support of Abbot Ephraim by the Ecumenical Throne.
The Press Release is as follows:
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.
Regarding this matter we communicate the following:
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.
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.
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.
At the Patriarchate, 10 January 2012
By the Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod
Source : Translated by John Sanidopoulos