His Holiness the Metropolitan of Sofia and Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte received today Archimandrite Bartholomew, abbot of the Mount Athos monastery “Esfigmen”, together with a group of monks from Mount Athos: monk Apostol from the cell “Meeting of the Lord” in the capital Kareia, monk Theona from Kylia. George ”in Kareia (this is a cell to the Great Lavra, in which St. Nicodemus of Mount Athos was active), monk Palama and monk Theologian from the fraternity of the monastery“ Esfigmen ”, as well as the nun Ekaterina from the monastery convent “Dostoyno Est” near Athens. The monks of Mount Athos and nun Ekaterina are in Bulgaria at the invitation of Archimandrite Nikanor, abbot of the Montenegrin monastery “St. St. Cosmas and Damian. ”The guests were accompanied by His Eminence Bishop Polycarp of Belogradchik, Vicar of the Metropolitan of Sofia.
There is an asymmetry in the photo material provided on the website of the Sofia Holy Metropolis: the monks of Mount Athos attended the meeting with protective masks, unlike their Bulgarian brethren.
We remind you that the abbot of the monastery “Esfigmen” was the first monk on Mount Athos to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Most monks have also been vaccinated. As is well known, wearing a protective mask has the effect of reducing the emission of viral particles into the atmosphere, especially indoors, and in practice its main benefit is the protection of others. Scientific data from recent months show that the likelihood of asymptomatic spread of the virus by vaccinated people is extremely low, but Athos guests have put these safeguards as an expression of concern for others and an example of behavior in a pandemic.
At the same time, the message sent by the Bulgarian high clergy to the church people and to the whole society is very disturbing. A message for neglecting the instructions of the authorities and medical specialists, and the precautionary measures against the epidemic at a time when a wave of virus spread is observed in Bulgaria. Moreover, with the lowest vaccine coverage in Europe and one of the last in the world. The cases of infection and mortality in Bulgaria are growing rapidly and an example of responsible behavior is needed. But instead of such an example, we see unscientific, conspiratorial, and outright fanatical theories flourishing among our society, and, unfortunately, among the church people and clergy.
The picture of the Bulgarian clergy against the background of the Athos clergy in an interesting way symbolizes the spirit of the Bulgarian Orthodox community, compared to the spirit of Orthodox asceticism, which the Holy Mountain (Mount Athos) embodies in the world. In connection with the attitude to the pandemic, Archimandrite Bartholomew Esfigmenski shared with the Bulgarian National Television the following: “People who today deny science and wear robes are obsessed with the spirit of bigotry. He cannot have a dialogue with such a person, he feeds on violence and wants to force his ideas. It is the duty of the wearer of the robe, and of every Christian, to show through his life the light which is hidden in him and which is Christ himself.
