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Russian patriarch urges release of Greek abbot suspected of land fraud
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RIA Novosti:
Patriarch Kirill
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The head of Russia's Orthodox Church on Thursday urged the Greek President, Karolos Papoulias, to release from jail Abbot Efraim, the head of the Vatopedi Monastery in Mount Athos, suspected of fraud in a land swap deal, RIA Novosti reported.
“I am obliged to inform the Greek president about our common grief and to request that he relaese Abbot Efraim, the head of the Vatopedi Monastery in Mount Athos, from jail” Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said in a statement.
The Orthodox Church head said that “millions of worshippers worry about the measures taken against the famous abbot…in the days when Orthodox Greece celebrates Christmas.”
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Comments
Supportive
December 29, 2011 by Jim Adams (United States ), 20 weeks 3 days ago
It's nice to see that in this miserable world there is at least support amongst crooks!
Russian Orthodox Church embroiled in corruption scandal
All with the blessing of the Church!
I'll agree
December 30, 2011 by John Gurlides (United Kingdom ), 20 weeks 2 days ago
We are talking about a frail man who is pretty much harmless - unless you are a dumb Prime Minister with no real estate sense whatsoever.
I say release him on humanitarian grounds!
Say what?
December 30, 2011 by Jim Adams (United States ), 20 weeks 2 days ago
Harmless? Defrauding the public? You call that harmless? Greece has entered a period of financial collapse because or crooks like Ephraim and you call that harmless? You call for the heads of politicians but when it comes to the clergy they are harmless? Scams with god's blessing? I say tar and feather him and then throw him in the slammer! Harmless?
Whoa!
December 30, 2011 by John Gurlides (United Kingdom ), 20 weeks 2 days ago
Let's not get carried away! This man did not mug someone or burglarise property. He poses no physical threat to any witnesses nor is he likely to do a runner. He can easily be released - due to health reasons - pending trial.
Should he be found guilty of any wrong-doing, well, that's a different story...
Turning the corner
December 31, 2011 by Jim Adams (United States ), 20 weeks 2 days ago
I don't disagree that all due process has to be followed and law has to be followed (and applied). I disagree that he should be awarded extra privileges during the process because he is a priest (or monk or whatever he claims to be) He should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law - and then some. Even if the point to be made was that Greece is turning the corner when it comes to corruption.
Radio Arvila
January 1, 2012 by Jim Adams (United States ), 20 weeks 1 day ago
A little something from Radio Arvila (on YouTube)