Evening journal., 1897-07-10
WALLED UP ALIVE.
Seventeen Monks Resign ThernseIve'
TO "a Living Tomb.

he stories OF SelI-lOTluIe lnUlcteu /
by religious fanatics in India and the
similar tales which come down to us
from the middle ages are all eclipsed
by actual occurrences in our own day
and in close touch with nineteenth CEN
tury European civilization.
The monks of the Greek church are
noted for their insane practices in this
respect, but a recent affair has ecllpsed
anything heretofore made known of
their cruelties to themselves and each
other in their efforts TO gain the crown
of martyrdom.
A ST. Petersburg dispatch TO the Lon
don Daily News cabled to New York
tells the story, and the Russian consul
general in New York as well as the pas
tor of the Greek orthodox church here
sees nothing in the alleged facts which
they regard as incredible in the light of
their knowledge concerning the prac-
tees of certain of the Greek church
monks.
The story simply is that II monks in
a hermitage of Tirespol, in the province
of Kherson, deliberately decided to
cause themselves to be walled up in the
monastery that they might earn mar
eyrdom by this horrible death. They
presented the scheme to q brother
monk, and, so far from being shocked
at the horrible proposition, he ap-
plauded it as a meritorious act of piety
and self punishment. He volunteered.
moreover, TO act as mason in walling his
brethren in their living tomb, and they
accepted his services.
1t was not until their mysterious dis
appearance began to excite comment
that an investigation was made. 1t was
at first thought they had emigrated,
but when the remaining monks were
closely questioned one of them con-
fessed that he had helped them to COM
nit suicide in the manner above de-
scribed.
There was n descent upon the monas-
terry by the police, and when the wall
was torn away at the point indicated
the horrible truth of the story, which
had seemed beyond belief, was re-
vealed.
A reporter for the New York World
asked Baron Schippenbach, the Russian
consul-general to New York, as to the
probable truth of the story, and he said:
"There are at present several sects
of religious fanatics in Russia who in
flict upon themselves tortures of the
most barbarous nature. These people
are to be found for the most part in the
south central part of Russia, and are,
believe, nominally at least, under the
control of the Greek church. Their re-
ligious rites are frequently 50 violent as
TO come within the law. They frequent
" cut and slash themselves and evince
their religious zeal with similar pleas
ant practices.
Il cannot say that the report that
the monks killed themselves in order
that they might pose as martyrs is true
but / have no reason to doubt it.
monk who offends in this way is con
sidered an ordinary criminal and pun
ished as such. These fanatics. curious
ly, often lead very active lives, making
their homes in the large cities. where
they try by every means to win converts
to their remarkable beliefs. In som,
cases have known them to do large
business as money lenders"
Agathadorus A. Papageorgopulos
pastor of the Greek Orthodox chapel
said:
81 have no doubt that the story o
the Greek monks being walled up II
their monastery is true. The religion
life of some of these sects has descended
into mere fanaticism. OF course, tn
( most charitable view to take of such
practice is that these people are suffer
ing from mental arrangement. The un
fortunate men are, it is true. member
of the Greek church, but the church !
! by no means responsible for their ac1
"The entire Greek church is nominal
ly under the head of the patriarch i
2 Constantinople, but the various part
S of the church are allowed the creates
o possible freedom in administering thei
e affairs. The monasteries of our churc
y are governed by rules not unlike thos
u of the Catholic monasteries. The monk
live the ascetic lives common to sue
: orders. They dress in the cheapes
b clothing and eat the plainest foo'
e Isolated as they are, it sometimes haI
g pens that their religious zeal takes th
d form of self-torture. Such practices.
, is hardly necessary to add, have not tn
= sanction of the church at large"