The Holy Synod against N. Dimou: Historically inaccurate and spiteful!

Immediate and severe is the reaction of the Church to what the stem of the river Nikos Dimou, said in an article. He claimed - among other things - that the church not only did not support the War of the Revolution, but she fought against it.

The Holy Synod of Greece responds to the article in question, without naming the author and featuring "propagandists of outdated ideologies" those who "cancel" the contribution of the Church to the Greek revolution of 1821.

As highlighted in the statement of the special synodical committee for cultural identity, "all those blamed the Church via broadcasts and publications, proved historically inaccurate and spiteful!”

Subsequently, the Church presented some historical references about the Revolution, according to which “100 Patriarchs and Bishops were killed during the Turkish occupation and struggle, while there were more than 80 movements before 1821 which most of them were led by Bishops ...”
In the statement of the Holy Synod is pointed out:

"It is easy for someone to rewrite history at will. But History is the study of the sources. Personal interpretations and misinterpretations show fanaticism, blindness and ignorance of sources. Those who lived through the events, Greeks and foreigners, activists and scholars admit that without the Greek Orthodox clergy Greeks would not have been free".

Below is the entire communication of the Holy Synod:

"Without the Orthodox clergy, the great national campaign of 1821 would not have succeeded. Some propagandists of outdated ideologies deny the role of the Orthodox Church, as demonstrated by publications and television shows in recent days. They proved ignorant of history and spiteful.

The French Consul Pukevil, who lived the events of the Greek Revolution, writes that 100 Patriarchs and Bishops were killed during the Turkish occupation and struggle. 80 movements were formed by Greeks before 1821 and most of them were led by bishops. Recall that from 1680 to 1700 the East Central was free after the revolt of two Bishops, Thebes Ierotheou and Salona Philotheou.

1821 was stained with the blood of Patriarch Gregory V and of Patriarch Cyril VI , from Andrianople. Besides the Bishop Germanos of Patras who blessed the banner at Agia Lavra (March 17, 1821) and Patras (25 March 1821), the Bishop Isaΐas from Salona declared the Revolution in Phocis and was sacrificed in Alamana . In Patmos came the Patriarch Theophilos Pagkostas of Alexandria and raised the revolutionary banner. Since then, he did not return to his throne again.
Most bishops of the Peloponnese had been locked in prison Pasha of Tripoli by early March 1821 and only three were found alive when the Greeks came after 6.5 months. We should not forget this sacrifice of the clergy.

In Cyprus Archbishop Cyprian had initiated the Friendly Company. The Turks were informed and on July 9, 1821 took place the great slaughter in Nicosia. Cyprian was killed along with all the Bishops and Archimandrites of the island together with their elders.

Many other bishops had a significant role in the fight as the Elos Anthimos, the Vresthenis Theodoret, the Androusis Joseph, the Talantio Neophytos. And in the grand Exodus of Messolonghi Bishop Joseph Rogon, assistant of Bishop Porphyrios Artas sacrificed in the blowing up of the windmill.

But also in the moral and spiritual preparation of 1821 the role of the Church is combative and universally acknowledged. The Greek Orthodox belief and ethnic identity safeguarded by means of education, which was predominantly the work of the Orthodox clergy. In secretly and openly schools, depending on the prevailing circumstances, the Greek children were taught by priests Belief, language and were nurtured with the desire for freedom.

Saint Cosmas of Aetolia was a monk who founded two hundred schools and preached in hundreds of towns and villages hoping for "desirable" release. The Martyrs, the first resisters of slavery, refused to become Turk and did not fear the executioner. The clergy who gave spiritual support and encouragement to the Martyrs through confession were called "aleiptai."

Some disseminate that the Ecumenical Patriarchate "excommunicated Rigas Ferreos". This is incorrect. The truth is that after the threats and pressures of the burdensome Sultan, the Patriarch Gregory V wrote to Metropolitan Anthimos of Izmir, expressing serious reservations about the text of the Rigas which was titled "New Political Administration", without being scorned the personality of the National Martyr.

It is easy for someone to rewrite history at will. But History is the study of the sources. Personal interpretations and misinterpretations show fanaticism, blindness and ignorance of sources. Those who lived through the events, Greeks and foreigners, activists and scholars admit that without the Greek Orthodox clergy Greeks would not have been free. Read Nicholas Kasomouli, Fotakos Chrysanthopoulos, Ioannis Makriyannis and so many other eyewitnesses of the events. Listen to what people say us through folk songs. Visit the countless battlefields and places of martyrdom of the Orthodox clergy, Patriarchs, Bishops, priests, priest-monks, deacons and ordinary monks.

The Church of Greece attempts a dispassionate and reasoned approach of Ottoman rule in 1821 and through a series of ten scientific conferences, which are organized by the Special Synodal Commission for Cultural Identity. The first two conferences have already been completed and the Volume with the Proceedings of the First Conference of 2012 is circulated. The tenth and final conference will take place in 2021, in the anniversary of two hundred years from the declaration of the Great Greek Revolution".