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

[PY2YP]

Hi Kostas,

Thank you very much for translanting the Apollo's message and clarfying 
the whole picure as well. Yor well done work is very much appreciated.

73 DX de PY2YP - Cesar

On 27/07/2015 04:37, Kostas SV1DPI wrote:
> 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/."
>