[SFDXA] SV2RSG/A – Mt Athos

[Bill]

Thanks to Jack K4WSB

---------- Forwarded message ---------

https://dx-world.net/sv2rsg-mt-athos/


  SV2RSG/A – Mt Athos

October 25, 2019
<https://dx-world.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/sv2rsg_qth.jpg>


        *NEWS UPDATE by SV2RSG/A*

    Dear Ham Radio friends, after a period of non action today is my New
    Start in my Ham Radio activity. It will be my pleasure to contact
    with you. I will be on the air till Monday evening either CW or
    Voice. There is no certain period of time, It depends on my monastic
    obligations. Thank you all.


        *Following info (AUGUST 4) on Monk Iakovos, SV2RSG provided by
        Theodore, SV1GRM:*

I am Monk Iakovos from the Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou of Mount 
Athos, bearing the distinct amateur radio call sign *SV2RSG*. I hereby 
take the liberty to contact you and write in the circumstances of what 
has been circulated as sporadic rumours regarding Mount Athos, Monk 
Apollo and me in conjunction to the issue of ham radio activities (radio 
amateur).
My sole purpose and intention is to provide clarification, based on 
actual facts and figures, in restoration of the truth. Regarding my 
eligibility as a radio amateur and solid proof of it, there are the 
relevant official records in the competent state service offices in 
Thessaloniki but also in the pertinent Ministry in Athens, for anyone 
interested in accessing, verifying, learning more, as well as relevant 
accompanying photographic material that has come under exposure to 
public eye at various given time periods.
Concerning the subject of a radio amateur license held by the passed 
Monk Apollo (SV2ASP), whether licensed by the Holy Community (Greek 
Hiera Koenotes) of Mount Athos for Amateur Radio Broadcasting, I would 
like to clarify the following: The Holy Community has never shown any 
sign of interest in this issue, until as recently as only 4 years ago.
The only permission granted to the late blessed Monk Apollo was for 
radio warning communications (regarding natural as well as other serious 
environmental hazards and disasters), in order to provide wider relative 
information on local and near periphery level and thus triggering 
response and support on combating, restricting and mitigating these 
disasters. On the other hand, it was exactly the outbreak of a ravaging 
wildfire on Mount Athos with terrible catastrophic effects that provided 
the motive for a more positive disposition towards mentioned ham radio 
activity.
However, there has never actually been a permit for ham radio amateur 
contests or daily ham radio activities, nor has it been any concern in 
the interests of the Holy Community to deal with this issue, since the 
Holy Community had at the time and still has much more serious and 
important issues of actual substance to resolve and deal with than those 
pertinent to a solitary Monk in his individual activity.
I say “individual activity” because the Monastery to which Monk Apollo 
belonged had not requested for such actions, and had not put forth an 
official Monastic request as such. This was also further demonstrated by 
the total ignorance of the Holy Community about the actions of Monk 
Apollo but also with their absence of knowledge regarding the 
definition, principles, purpose, and key-functions of Amateur Radio.
This fact alone is a response to those who invoke issues of licenses and 
concessions. This is also the reason why Monk Apollo did broadcast with 
Thessaloniki as signal mark location and “/A” mark location on Mount 
Athos, precisely because the base and station of transmission had to be 
lawfully seated in Thessaloniki and not on Mount Athos.
Having thus no serious and formal information provided on the subject 
from those who were directly involved and concerned, the Holy Community 
considered the use and action of Ham Radio as a notion opposing 
tradition and unrelated to Monasticism and its own tradition.
This at the exact very same time when Mount Athos is overwhelmed and 
flooded with constant use of Internet, YouTube, email, social media, 
mobile phone applications and every other wireless and recent 
technological invention services.
Although people nowadays do say “mobile” and they mean “cellular phone” 
the intended proper term to actually use is “radio” (frequency 
telecommunications). I tried with all my kind disposition and due 
respect to explain, clarify and inform the Holy Epistasia – the Holy 
Supervisory Committee of the Community (Greek Hiera Epistasia) – on the 
issue of “Ham/Amateur Radio”, at the time when the Holy Monastery of 
Koutloumousiou sent me as a member of their delegation regarding the 
Monastic request of a ham radio station installation.
The Koutloumousiou delegation consisted of Monk Iakovos (SV2RSG), as the 
representative of the Holy Monastery, the Monk driver and one more Monk, 
all present during our presentation and attending the whole hearing 
process of the Monastic request. Representatives of the Holy Epistasia 
of the Holy Community of Mount Athos were the Holy Protepistate and 
other two Monastery Epistates (Supervisors). Immediately, it became 
obviously clear that the Holy Protepistate and the Monastery Epistates 
had, plausibly, no previous or current knowledge of what Ham Radio is in 
general, its advantages and how it works. In spite of my personal 
attempt to explain in detail, fill in any gaps or answer eventual 
queries, unfortunately no one was finally convinced of the use and 
usefulness of traditional amateur radio, not because they were not 
convinced based on reasoning and argumentation, but because there was 
lack of disposition towards dealing with the subject.
On the contrary, in reply to our presentation, I was met with many 
negative comments and criticism about Monk Apollo and his ham radio 
activities that I would not ever disclose for the sake of respect and 
esteem for the late brother Monk Apollo. On many occasions I have even 
received rebukes, insults and slander from friends of Monk Apollo and 
other Ham Radio amateurs, mostly anonymous..
Mentioned above was certainly not with any intention to put blame or 
accusation on anyone at all, I just need to attribute the truth to the 
events and actual facts that happened between people we are struggling 
together with in our weaknesses, passions and selfishness, during our 
common spiritual struggle and objectives. However, nowadays that we are 
going through a time period of total radio silence and relevant activity 
in Mount Athos, this due to plausible ignorance and partial lack of 
interest in such ham radio activities on the part of the Holy Community 
(because of so many other more important and pressing issues demanding 
our attention) we do have the opportunity to make an appeal.
With the status of a Holy Mount Athos Monk and as a Radio Amateur at the 
same time, I invite and urge you and all those who love Mount Athos and 
the tradition of Amateur Radio to join our hearts and voices in sending 
letters or emails of support in spirit of respect to the Holy Community, 
and pray and request for: Its reconsideration on the issue and – 
granting their kind permission to install radio communications 
station(s), not to any individual Monks, but to any of the Holy 
Monasteries that do wish to install and operate such an installation 
(after decision of the Monasteries’ ‘Committee’ and the ‘Council of 
Elders’) by designating / appointing a Monk Radio Operator responsible 
for its proper function, under the standards and guidelines of 
well-established international and domestic telecommunication rules and 
regulations. Glory be to God and our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ for all 
things! In spirit of Jesus Christ’s love for all.
Monk Iakovos Koutloumousianos, SV2RSG.