March 15, 2012
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He confirmed that the Georgians have made progress on talks regarding the monastery.
‘These events take place on the diplomatic level. However, as the Abbot of the monastery I am forced to ask the Georgian contenders of the monastery: ‘Should I also do the same thing for the Parthenon marbles in England? Should I do the same for the Aphrodite of Milos who is in the Louvre museum? Should I also demand our lost lands in Asia Minor’?
The Abbot stressed that the monastery was purchased from the Patriarchate and this is verified by official documents.
‘The Patriarchate is in possession of all the official documents regarding the monastery. Should I also do the same thing with the Georgians and ask for the relics of the Three Hierarchs in Romania to be returned to us?
‘When one raises such issues one upsets the peace inside the Church. We are not concerned with politics. We are only concerned with our religion’ added Fr Claudius. Let’s each one of us learn our history and then we will have the opportunity to find out about the history of Hellenism in Israel. History itself will give them the appropriate response’ he concluded.
