Orthodox Monasteries: The other side of a scandal

“Decency and Humbleness” was the main cue of conservative government of K. Karamanlis in Greece. Two words taken straight from the principles of Christian Monasticism.
Dramatic irony, one of the major political and financial scandal of the decade, arises when the government try to transfer – under outrageous terms – public property to the ownership of a famous monastery of Mt. Athos, Vatopedi.
Decency and humbleness of the “Cathars” of the government party ends up in hell, a minister resigned, and more than thirty officials accused for this case.
But the most effective consequence in Greek society was the humiliation of a large group of people who still believe in Orthodox Church and in the ideal of monasticism. Instead of Vatopedian abbot Efraim who became an expert of real estate, Greek monks and nuns continue to live their life in the simplicity and devotion of faith.
We followed them to their monasteries and churches, to litanies and fests, to their own cells, trying to find the other side of a scandal: Living with spiritualism on our godless times.
Text by Yorgos Xepapadakos. Photographs by Maro Kouri