ABBOT METHODIUS: TROLL OF THE MONTH - FEBRUARY
The Troll of the Month is an episode we choose every month to expose anti-Semites and to show the positive outcomes in the fight against antisemitism in Europe.
A rally in Thessaloniki has recently gathered ultra-right nationalists and extremist Greek Orthodoxes, including Abbot Methodius of Mount Athos' Esfigmenou Monastery,” to demonstrate against “the instruments of Antichrist and the New World Order”.
The demonstration, held on 28 February 2016, was organised to protest against the new electronic citizen card that the Greek government is planning to introduce in the country. Being the card manufacturing company based in Israel, some extremists – including the daily Eleftheri Ora – believe that the company is planning to print a depiction of Satan onto the card and “to give you the mark” [of the number of the Beast].
Journalist Sofia Christoforidou reports that speakers and banners accused Jews to be “plotting to enslave Greece and the humanity” through the new Citizen Card, social security numbers and other “plastic” cards, becoming thus the “instrument of the Antichrist and the New World Order”.
Methodius, the Abbot of a monastery considered as a heretic one by the official Greek Orthodox Church, said: “We are not animals; we are human beings that God made us free. We are not slaves of the Jews; we don't accept Jewish money [money from EU to restore their monastery]. Being that many, don't we have the power to resist against the Jews?”
Greek and Byzantine flags were raised along with religious banners. One of the posters said “No to the citizen card. There is only one enemy: International Zionism.” Books and pamphlets promoting antisemitic stereotypes of Jews were also on sale.
This rally in Thessaloniki, attended by a thousand of people, came after a previous similar demonstration in early February in Athens. In that occasion, Abbot Methodius was recorded saying: “if Jews complain that Hitler killed them, they should be aware this time, in case a Greek Hitler appears.”
