Open Letter to the Vatopaidi Monks

Beloved Brothers in Christ our Lord,

Evlogeite!

May our Gracious God always bless you!

First let me say this you can be humbly assured of my prayers for you and your beloved Abbot Ephraim at your holy Monastery of Vatopedi!

I had the great blessing to pray with you all a few years ago (I arrived with five pilgrims) and met several of you as well as was briefly able to speak with your beloved Abbot Ephraim, I truly was very spiritually rewarded to had been able to pray at your holy Monastery. I still reflect upon my visit as my most favorite places on Holy Mt. Athos to pray. Your Abbot and some of your monks would remember me as after I left your Holy Monastery I then went to do missionary work in Skopije and Kosovo. The Eccliastic (from Australia) of your monastery also remembers me as he gave me a special tour of the monastery interior.

Many of the monks where truly kind to me and the hospitality was Christ-loving.

I now read the attached letter in Greek from your pious letter of your beloved Abbot, and… I have a dear Greek Orthodox Christian friend in Athens who will further translate this whole text because this matter has appeared on in one of our Greek Newspapers in English in America, and therefore I know the Editor of this paper well so I will forward it in English to him once it’s translated for me. I desire that this matter sees the truthful accounts and what your beloved Abbot has expressed which in the end will cease from any false press in this regards.

You can be assured I am praying for you all that the grace of the Holy Spirit will help you all find once again peace for your souls and that we then get back on our path towards our salvation. Do not worry the Mother of God will also help you all because She too knows your hearts.

God love and bless you all, and give you His peace!

Peace to your souls!
Humbly in Christ our Lord,
+Very Reverend Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes
Who prays for you and with you!
Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Boise, Idaho
USA