[Alex Murphy]

The monks of Esphigmenou Monastery have been declared an illegal brotherhood by the spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos, over a dispute regarding improving ties with the Catholic Church, which the monks vehemently oppose. In 2002 Bartholomeos ordered their eviction from the 10th-Century Mount Athos monastery but they refused to obey. Moraitis said that the eviction order delivered to them last week was aimed at having them vacate the premises so that the management of the monastic community can get its hands on the monastery’s assets. The Church doesn’t recognize the position of those inside the monastery as monks and a war of words has lingered for years between the leaders of the Greek Orthodox Church and the ultra-Orthodox self-styled monks inside the monastery.

Ah, the fruits of the Great Schism.

[Gamecock]

Feisty monks.

[redgolum]

Heck, I have seen similar things in churches and parishes all over the US.

My second cousin gave my home church in Nebraska a million dollars in his will. I suspect that they will end up fighting about the money soon.

So Doc, are they fighting over the ecumenical talks or just fighting?