January 28, 2003 - Today, acting on the orders of Patriarch Bartholomew of Istanbul, and Foreign Minister of Greece George Papandreou, Armed Greek Police Reinforcements have arrived and surrounded Esphigmenou Monastery.

Now, more than ever the monks of Esphigmenou need your help.  They are being persecuted by the Patriarch of Istanbul.  Rather than coming to the aid of the monks, who are EU citizens, the Greek Government is trampling their constitutional rights.

Blockaded on land by the Greek Police and at sea by the Greek Coast Guard, the monks are under siege.  No provisions can be brought into the monastery, not even the most basic necessities required for survival such as food and medicine.  Many of the monks are elderly and require medical care, which is also denied them by the Greek Government.  This is not only unchristian, it is inhuman and uncivilized.

Please send letters of protest to the Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Deputy Foreign Minister John Magriotis, the European Union and Patriarch Bartholomew of Istanbul.  Demand that they stop using the Greek Police and Coast Guard to enforce religious beliefs in Greece.  The use of force is not how religious disputes are solved in civilized Europe