[Dx-qsl] Monk Apollo Speaks Out on Illegal Operation from Mount, Athos

Mon Jul 27 03:37:57 EDT 2015

answering some questions...
 >How did Monk Apollo get his amateur license? Did he take a test and 
was it issued to him by Greek authorities?
He took a test by Greek Authorities and passed the examinations as 
everyone. He describes in his qrz page how it is happened to get a radio 
amateur license:
/"In spring 1986 our monastery had remained without telephone for over 
five months, a phenomenon that is not unusual on Mount Athos. It 
thenhappened that one of the brothers who was working in the garden 
struck a big stone with his hoe, and a small piece of the hoe stuck into 
his eye. After two days, we reached the AHEPA Hospital in Thessalonica. 
When Mr Georgiadis, ophthalmology professor and chairman of then Radio 
Amateur Union of Northern Greece, heard the story, he recommended that 
somebody in the monastery become an amateur radio operator, in order to 
guarantee communication in case of emergency: for the safety of the 
monks,as well as of the treasures preserved in the monastery. It was in 
this way that I first learn about amateur radio. In 1988 I obtained my 
licence"/
 >I understand that there is some kind of 'special autonomy' connected 
to Mt Athos
Mt Athos is part of Greece and European Community as well. But it is an 
autonomous self ruled monastic republic as it is administrated by the 
Holy Council. Holy Council constitutes by representatives of the 20 
monasteries. 20 votes total but 13 votes for a decision. Police, port 
police, post office are Greek.
 >I interpreted Monk Apollo's message to be that in order for any 
amateur to operate legally from Mt Athos he must first get written 
approval from the High Council
It took 2 years to Monk Apollo to get an approval from Holy Council. A 
monk normally needs his Abbott approves his application first, and after 
that to forward it to Holy Council. Holy Council allows him to operate 
then. There are more than 10 monks who are radio amateurs in Mt Athos. I 
know some of them personally. Unfortunately only Monk Apollo has the 
right papers. The others have not a license by Holy Council because they 
have not made an application either they are not interesting either 
their Abbott don't allow them.
 >The priorities of people who take religious vows and live a cloistered 
life do not
have the liberties or time of we common folk
This is the biggest truth I have heard. Ham Radio is a priority for us 
but not for him. I know Monk Apollo personally. He is on the air just to 
make us happy and because he feels responsible as he is the only 
operator from Mount Athos. I copy again from his qrz page:
"/In spite of all the difficulties and of not being fond of DXing (which 
does not really fit in my monastic way of life), I have been sacrificing 
my very little spare time to make the voice of the Holy Mountain heard 
on the air and to give joy to a multitude of friends impatiently waiting 
for a contact. I have been doing so since 1990, trying to spread, 
through my presence on the radio waves, a message of hope and optimism – 
from the ascetic world of Mount Athos to the troubled world outside/."
-- 
73 Kostas SV1DPI