The first half of 1991 has been eventful both for the Holy Mountain and for the Friends. We have therefore taken the unprecedented step of issuing a interim newsletter to keep members up-to-date, pending publication of the Annua1 Report for the year.

Relations between the Mountain and the Patriarchate
The arrival of an exarchate (a delegation of three bishops nominated by the Ecumenical Patriarch) in Karyes on 16 February, its intervention in the business ot the Double Synaxis (a meeting of the Holy Community together with the abbots of all nineteen convening monasteries) planned for 17 February, and the subsequent deposition of one abbot and the representatives of three other monasteries threw the Holy Mountain into crisis and schism. A clear majority (thirteen monasteries) refused to accept the demands of the exarchate (the other six were prepared to go along with them); but the Holy Community needs fourteen for a quorum, Esphigmenou remained aloof, and so business was suspended. The 'thirteen' and the 'six' were at loggerheads. Relations with Constantinople were at an all-time low.

The Friends received an appeal for help and were asked to publicize the plight of the deposed. We responded by writing a letter to The Times on 3 March, by contributing an article to the Daily Telegraph on 5 March, and by arranging interviews on BBC radio. Those visiting the Phanar were also asked to raise the matter with the Ecumenical Patriarch. After a number of appeals for clemency, the depositions were finally retracted on Great Friday (29 April). By chance I myself was at Simonopetra when the news was received. There was great relief that the crisis was over before Easter and I was asked to convey the gratitude of the monks to the Friends for their part in alleviating it. I continued to Xeropotamou where I celebrated Easter with a community full of joy and thanks for the restoration of its abbot.

The retraction of the depositions provided instant. relief for the most acute symptoms of the crisis; the more chronic ones were still in need of care. In the second week after Easter the Holy Community met for the first time for three months and resumed its normal business. The rift between the 'thirteen' and the 'six' has slowly healed. Relations with Constantinople are back to normal and may even have been improved by the upset. It is to be hoped that a greater understanding between the two sides will lead to a resolution of the problems surrounding the non-Greek monks on the Mountain, for it was those problems that had brought the exarchate to Karyes in the first place.

The Vassilopita Party
Over a hundred members and their guests crowded into the Maria Andipa Icon Gallery in Knightsbridge on the evening of 10 January for a Vassilopita party (a Greek New Year celebration), kindly arranged for us by Mr Ilya Haritakis. It was enormouslv successful in every way: the occasion itself was greatly enjoyed by all those attending; it was written up in the pages of Hello! magazine (the ultimate social accolade); it took Bishop Kallistos and me to Bush House where we recorded interviews with the BBC World Service; and it raised over £500. We are delighted to accept Mrs Andipa's invitation for a return visit next January.

The 28th Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies
The Symposiarch, Protessor Anthony Bryer, generously associated the Friends with the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies in convening this major international gathering at the University of Birmingham from 26 to 29 March under the patronage and blessing of His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch. The theme was 'Mount Athos and Byzantine Monasticism'. The keynote address, on 'Athanasios the Athonite (d. 1001) and Byzantine Monasticism', was delivered by Bishop Kallistos, and members of the Friends were well represented among subsequent speakers. An informal meeting of the Friends was held on the first evening. A full account will appear in the Annual Report.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The third AGM of the Friends took place on 18 May at 1 Canterbury Road, Oxford. More than sixty members and their guests attended. Dr Dimitri Konomos was elected to the Executive Committee; Bishop Kallistos and Mr Derek Hill were re-elected. After the formal business Bishop Kallistos gave an illustrated talk on the subject 'Athos 25 Years Ago: Visits with Gerald Palmer'. His thoughtful reminiscences of the past and sharply drawn contrasts with the present were deeply appreciated. But next time we shall need more chairs!

WWF, SYNDESMOS, and the Friends
The Duke of Edinburgh has kindly sent us an update of the various initiatives that sprang from his visit to the Mountain in October 1992, a copy of which is enclosed. Of these we are particularly pleased to associate ourselves with the 'Orthodox Spiritual Ecology Camp' which was organized by SYNDESMOS and led by Dimitri Konomos. We decided it was a worthy recipient of the sum raised by our Vassilopita party and we therefore contributed £500 towards the running costs. A full account of the camp will appear in the Annual Report.

This is perhaps the place to record that I was honoured to be invited by Her Majesty the Queen to represent the Friends at a garden party at Buckingham Palace in July where I had the pleasure of meeting Prince Philip. We discussed some of the problems currently faced by the monks, and in particular the recurrent risk of fire in the summer months. I was glad to have an opportunity to thank His Royal Highness for his interest and support.

Future Events
As usual, we are planning a winter meeting in London. On Thursday 1 December Professor John Lindsay Opie from Rome will address the Friends on the subject of the recent occupation by Athonite monks of a Byzantine monastery in Calabria. This is a fascinating story, drawing together both the contemporary Greek interest in Byzantine Calabria and the sharply increased concern of the Calabrians themselves for their Byzantine past. The talk will be illustrated with slides and members are encouraged to note the date in their diaries now. The venue is yet to be confirmed, but it will be central London. A circular will be sent out nearer the time.

Our first selection of Christmas cards is advertised herewith on a separate sheet. The cards are produced by the monastery of Vatopedi; so if you order some, you will be supporting both the Friends and the monastery. We have placed an order for a bulk quantity and are hoping that by advertising early we shall get a good response. In order to avoid disappointment, we recommend a prompt return of the order form.

In conclusion, I wish you all a joyful summer; and if you visit the Mountain, I would encourage you to send us word of your experiences.

Graham Speake

Return to Newsletter Index | Advance to Newsletter 2