The contribution of the Holy Cloisters throughout time in the course of the Greek Nation has occupied contemporary historiography and ecclesiastical history. It remains, however, an always open issue to further research and study. The aspects and the views of this discourse provide a wide scope for the detection of new sources and evidence that redound to the approach of the view of this ecclesiastical institution (monasticism).

The presence and the contribution of monasticism deeply affected not only the continuation of Hellenism, but also the entire politico-economic state of the Balkans and of the East during the events that occurred that period (19^th century), but also those that followed. It differentiated the international realities and signified the beginning of the fall of a long period of Ottoman rule in European lands.

Monasticism has many components. It began with the wish of people, and then of monks, to search for spiritual perfection (deification), with accordance to the sermon of Jesus Christ and the apostolic literature, and through two discernible manifestations of this institution; Eremitic Monasticism, which supports the departure from the urban centers and the search for refuge to secluded lands, and Coenobitic Monasticism.

At the same time, the love and respect of the monks to tradition, history, literature and the arts are recorded, with the preservation of the Holy Cloisters not only as spiritual centers but also as centers related to and promoting culture and the Greek civilization. Finally, the devotion of the monks to Christianity and the ideals of freedom -a foundational piece of the Greek orthodox faith- is featured, as the monks never hesitated to turn the spiritual centers of the religion (the Holy Cloisters) to national castles, whenever needed.

The main allusion, however, is in the contribution and the participation of the Holy Cloisters in the Greek War of Independence, in 1821. Specifically, evidence were searched for that present -on the basis of historical and social context- the potentials that were shaped during the course and the evolution of the War of Independence; meaning in relation to the redound of the cloisters to the conducting of the war, like the contribution of the Holy Cloisters, of the monks, and of every individual or group that directly or indirectly contributed in any way to the War. The research for evidence was a demanding and laborious undertaking, as most Holy Cloisters had been looted and burnt down during the Greek War of Independence. Many of them had been destroyed during the War, but later on, as well, when Otto’s viceroy, with the decree 7/10/1833, decided that all Cloisters with six or less monks were to be demolished. As a result, the archives of the Cloisters were lost as well.

WRITING – EDITING

• Margarita Dimitriadou, Historian (MA in History & Didactic of History and MA in Eastern Orthodox Theology)

DRAWINGS OF PUBLICATION

• Maria K. Sideri, Iconographer – Artist

PREFACE – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

• His Beatitude Hieronymus II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece
• The president of Ecumenical Hellenic Foundation, Mr. Stavros Panousopoulos

FEATURES OF PUBLICATION

• Publication Date: 2021
• Pages: 176
• Measurements: 28×28 cm
• Type of Publication: Luxurious
• Paper: Illustration
• Print: Black and White
• Language: Greek
• Availability: Yes

Το άρθρο HOLY CLOISTERS / VOLUME II εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Μέλαθρον Οικουμενικός Ελληνισμός.

The journey will begin in January 2021 and shall be completed in January 2024. The destinations are:

• Islands of the Aegean
• Villages of the regional unit of Evros
• Villages of the regional unit of Ioannina
• Outermost villages of Macedonia

The program is developed by the Ecumenical Hellenic Foundation in collaboration with the schools, and the donations will include:

• Publications by the Ecumenical Hellenic Foundation of historical, cultural, folkloric content for the circulating library of every school
• Publications by other publishing houses for children aged 6-12 for the circulating library of every school
• P/C equipment for the facilitation of computer learning
• Necessary audiovisual equipment for the facilitation of learning procedures, as well as for the organizing of school anniversary celebrations and events
• Equipment for robotics education as a contribution to the teaching of robotics in secondary education

Inspired by Cosmas of Aetolia, the great teacher of the nation who spoke of the need to institute new schools, since through them our history will be preserved and it will nurture the hopes for the great War of Independence, we have decided, for the quadrennium 2021-2024, to launch the program “Journey of Knowledge in Outermost Greece”. With the undertaking of this activity, we aim at no child, living in an area of outermost Greece, being deprived of access to knowledge. Without public funding, but only through the support of our members and other sensitized Greeks, we will implement this program with the same success we have had in our previous endeavors.

Children, future generations, are the hope of the world we live in. Without the necessary equipment of modern scientific knowledge and historical memory, young people cannot grow, contribute, thrive, and form the modern Greece of the 21^st century.

In this effort, we are certain that all Greeks will join us and contribute, for all of us to make a better future for our homeland!

Which schools we plan to endow

We contacted all the educational institutions of outermost Greece and we recorded one by one their needs in technological equipment, as well as, in books for their circulating libraries.

We have already identified through our endeavors many needs and we present to you the first list of schools awaiting our help:

1. Elementary School of Tilos, regional unit of the Dodecanese
2. Elementary School of Xerokampos, Leros, regional unit of the Dodecanese
3. Elementary School of Kasos, regional unit of the Dodecanese
4. 1^st Elementary School of Filiates, regional unit of Thesprotia
5. 2^nd Elementary School of Filiates, regional unit of Thesprotia
6. Elementary School of Kalpaki, regional unit of Ioannina
7. Elementary School of Oinoi, regional unit of Kastoria
8. Elementary School of Mantamados, regional unit of Lesvos
9. Elementary School of Pigi, regional unit of Lesvos
10. Elementary School of Kato Tritos, regional unit of Lesvos
11. Elementary School of Papados, regional unit of Lesvos
12. Elementary School of Chidira, regional unit of Lesvos
13. Elementary School of Promachoi, regional unit of Pella
14. Elementary School of Theodoraki, regional unit of Pella
15. Elementary School of Fournoi, regional unit of Samos
16. Elementary School of Platanos, regional unit of Samos
17. Elementary School of Kastanousa, regional unit of Serres
18. Elementary School of Pontismenos, regional unit Serres
19. Elementary School of Melites, regional unit of Florina
20. Elementary School of Tholopotamos, regional unit of Chios

What equipment we wish to send

Withing the framework of the action “Journey of Knowledge to Outermost Greece” we wish to send the following:

1. P/Cs
2. Laptops (portable personal computers)
3. Tablets
4. Interactive Whiteboards
5. Printers
6. Kits for the robotics learning
7. Projectors
8. Microphonic and sound systems
9. Books of literature, history, and children´s books for ages 6-12

Το άρθρο SUPPORT THE ACTION “JOURNEY OF KNOWLEDGE IN OUTERMOST GREECE” εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Μέλαθρον Οικουμενικός Ελληνισμός.