MR Code I

THE LEGAL CODE OF THE SERENE MONASTIC REPUBLIC OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN

DEFINITIONS

• The Serene Monastic Republic of the Holy Mountain is the full name of the sovereign nation, abbreviated as SMRHM.
• The Monastic Republic is the shortened name of the sovereign nation, abbreviated as MR.
• Mount Athos is the name of the mountain at the end of the peninsula.
• The Holy Mountain is the name of the restricted territory which is the location of the monasteries.
• The Lowland (η Βραχάρουπα/ι Βραχάρυπ – i Vrächárup) is the name of the land between the Holy Mountain and the border with Greece.
• The Isles (οι Νήσοι/i Νίσι – i Nísi) is the name of the several islands and islets that lie in the Aegean Sea to the west of the mainland portion of the Monastic Republic.
  • Ämänúl (Αμμανούλι/Αμανύλ) is the name of the largest of the islands.
  • The Islets (τα Νησάκια/τα Νισάκια - tø nisákiä) is the collective name of the small uninhabited islets near Ammanouli.

TITLE TWO – THE ARCHIMANDRITE

Public Law No. 2 [Duties of the Archimandrite] (2/16/2009)

• §1 The executive power of the Serene Monastic Republic of the Holy Mountain is vested in the Archimandrite.
• §2 The Archimandrite shall be appointed from the Greek hegumens in a rotation determined by the seniority of the monasteries for a term of five years at the Advent meeting.
• §3 The newly elected Archimandrite shall be ordained a bishop during the Divine Liturgy by the outgoing Archimandrite at the Advent meeting.
• §4 After his ordination the new Archimandrite shall take his oath in the presence of the other nineteen Hegumens who shall affirm their fealty by a gesture to be determined by Law.
• §5 Every Archimandrite shall declare orally upon his honor and dignity the following oath: “I swear by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to observe the Constitution of the Serene Monastic Republic of the Holy Mountain and its other laws, and to observe the independence and the territorial integrity of this Serene Monastic Republic.” He shall then sign his name to this oath.
• §6 This oath shall be administered to the new Archimandrite during the Divine Liturgy by the outgoing Archimandrite and witnessed by the signatures of the nineteen Hegumens.
• §7 Should the office of Archimandrite become vacant before the end of the term, the Hegumen next in the order of rotation shall be sworn in and begin his five-year term.
• §8 The Archimandrite shall draw up any treaties to be presented to the Holy Synod for approval.
• §9 The Archimandrite shall represent the Monastic Republic in all its relations with foreign countries.
• §10 The Archimandrite shall accredit apokrisiarioi of the Monastic Republic to foreign nations. Foreign envoys shall present their credentials to the Archimandrite.
• §11 The Archimandrite shall provide protection and assistance to citizens living or traveling abroad.
• §12 The Archimandrite shall assist businesses of the Monastic Republic in the international marketplace.
• §13 The Archimandrite shall coordinate and provide support for international activities of other Government agencies, official visits overseas and at home, and other diplomatic efforts.
• §14 The Archimandrite shall keep the citizens informed about the Monastic Republic’s foreign policy and relations with other countries and provide feedback from the citizens to administration officials.
• §15 The texts of the sovereign resolutions issued on his proposal shall be signed by the Archimandrite personally.
• §16 The Archimandrite shall provide for the Civil Service required for the government agencies.
• §17 The Archimandrite shall supervise the taking of the quinquennial census.
• §18 The Archimandrite shall monitor the lawful and uninterrupted conduct of business by the Court of Justice and notify the Supreme Tribunal of any irregularities observed.
• §19 Passports shall be issued by the Archimandrite.
• §20 The Archimandrite shall submit an annual report on his official activities to the Holy Synod.
• §21 The Archimandrite shall visit each town at least quarterly to discuss affairs with the demarchs and to listen to the citizens.

TITLE THREE - THE HOLY SYNOD

Public Law No. 4 [The Hegumens] (2/16/2009)

• §1 The legislative power of the Serene Monastic Republic of the Holy Mountain is vested in the Holy Synod, that is, the twenty hegumens of the Holy Mountain.
• §2 Election of the hegumen takes place according to each monastery’s practice.
• §3 The Holy Synod shall meet on the first Monday of every month.
• §4 If the monthly meeting of the Holy Synod must be cancelled, it must be rescheduled as soon as possible.
• §5 Each hegumen may bring with him one or two assistants who, however, may not attend the meeting of the Holy Synod. They shall keep themselves ready should their hegumen need assistance.
• §6 If a hegumen is unable to attend a meeting of the Holy Synod, he may appoint a representative with plenary power to attend the meeting. This representative may also bring with him one or two assistants who, however, may not attend the meeting of the Holy Synod. They shall keep themselves ready should their hegumen need assistance.
• §7 After celebrating the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Synod will meet to discuss and approve of or disapprove of the business of the Holy Mountain at hand.
• §8 Should a hegumen die during his tenure, an immediate election of a new hegumen shall be held who shall then begin his two-year term on the Holy Synod.
• §9 The twenty monasteries of the Holy Mountain in order of seniority are:
  • 1. St. Athanasius
  • 2. Annunciation
  • 3. St. John the Baptist
  • 4. Transfiguration
  • 5. Holy Archangels
  • 6. Sts. Peter and Paul
  • 7. St. Philotheus
  • 8. Presentation of Jesus
  • 9. St. George
  • 10. Theophany
  • 11. Ascension
  • 12. Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
  • 13. St. George
  • 14. St. John the Iberian
  • 15. St. John the Iberian
  • 16. St. Sava
  • 17. St. Pantaleimon
  • 18. St. Nicholas
  • 19. St. Maroun
  • 20. St. Thomas
• §11 In this law, the title hegumen refers also to the abbots of the non-Orthodox monasteries.

TITLE FOUR - NATIONAL EMBLEMS

Public Law No. 5 [Coat of Arms, Seal and Flag and National Emblems] (2/16/2009)

• 1 The coat of arms and the seal of the Serene Monastic Republic of the Holy Mountain shall be emblazoned as “White, an equilateral triangle vert surmounted of a Greek cross or; a bordure compony of twenty or and gules.”
• §2 The national colors shall be red, green and gold.
• §3 The flag of the Monastic Republic shall be of the same design as the coat of arms, in the ratio of 1:1.
• §4 The maritime ensign shall be the national flag without the cross and surmounted by a silver anchor.
• §5 The aviation roundel shall be the green equilateral triangle surmounted by the golden Greek cross on a white roundel surrounded by a gold circle and then a red circle.
• §6 The Flag shall fly 24 hours a day, regardless of weather, in the plateia of the three demes, in the capital of Karyes, and in the military post of Dafni.
• §7 Flag etiquette for the Monastic Republic shall be the same as that for the , with the exception that infractions of flag etiquette shall be subject to criminal penalties as legislated by Law.
• §8 The National Anthem is She Set Her Foot.
• §9 The olive blossom (Olea europaea) shall be the national flower of the Monastic Republic.
• §10 The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) shall be the national bird of the Monastic Republic.

Public Law No. 27 [The Flag Code]

This Flag Code Act formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which respect is given to the national flag.

• §1 Specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used.
  • a. The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
  • b. The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speaker’s desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of green, gold and red stripes is available for these purposes. The green stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
  • c. The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
  • d. The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, firefighters, gendarmes and members of patriotic organizations.
  • e. The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
  • f. The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
  • g. When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
  • h. The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
  • i. When a flag is so worn that it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of the Monastic Republic, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.
  • j. A flag no longer fit to serve may be taken to any gendarmery post for disposal.
• §2 Displaying the Flag Outdoors
  • a. When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony, or a building, the top point of the triangle should point away from the building.
  • b. When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag, of a state, community, or society, the flag of the Monastic Republic must always be at the top.
  • c. When the flag is displayed over a street or over a sidewalk, it should be hung horizontally, with the top point of the triangle pointing up.
  • d. When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the Monastic Republic is always placed in the position of honor, to its own right.
  • e. The other flags may be smaller but none may be larger.
  • f. No other flag may ever be placed above it.
  • g. The flag of the Monastic Republic is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.
  • h. When flown with the national banner of other countries, each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of the same height. Each flag should be the same size. They should be raised and lowered simultaneously. The flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation.
  • i. Every public building shall display the flag either on a staff projecting from the building or on a flagpole in front of the building.
  • j. Every monastery shall display the flag on a flagpole at the entrance to the monastery.
  • k. Every vessel licensed in the Monastic Republic shall display the ensign from a staff at the stern of the vessel.
  • l. Every aircraft licensed in the Monastic Republic shall display the flag painted on both sides of the fuselage.
  • m. The flag shall be displayed 24 hours a day in the center of the plateia of each town.
  • n. The flag of the deme, of a smaller size, shall be displayed with the flag in the plateia on the same pole as and under the flag of the Monastic Republic.
• §3 Raising and Lowering the Flag
  • a. The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously.
  • b. With the exception of §2m, the flag is displayed only between sunrise and sunset.
  • c. The flag of the Monastic Republic is saluted as it is hoisted and lowered. The salute is held until the flag is unsnapped from the halyard or through the last note of music, whichever is the longest.
• §4 Displaying the Flag Indoors
  • a. When on display, the flag of the Monastic Republic is accorded the place of honor, always positioned to its own right. Place it to the right of the speaker or staging area or sanctuary. Other flags should be to the left.
  • b. The flag of the Monastic Republic should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of nations, localities, or societies are grouped for display.
  • c. When one flag is used with the flag of the Monastic Republic and the staffs are crossed, the flag of the Monastic Republic is placed on its own right with its staff in front of the other flag.
  • d. When displaying the flag against a wall horizontally, the top point of the triangle should be at the top. It is never displayed vertically.
• §5 Parading and Saluting the Flag
  • When carried in a procession, the flag should be to the right of the marchers. When other flags are carried, the flag of the Monastic Republic may be centered in front of the others or carried to their right. When the flag passes in a procession, or when it is hoisted or lowered, all should face the flag and salute.
• §6 The Salute
  • To salute, all persons come to attention. Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute. Citizens not in uniform salute by placing their right hand over the heart and men with head cover should remove it and hold it to left shoulder, hand over the heart. Members of organizations in formation salute upon command of the person in charge.
• §7 The National Anthem
  • a. The pledge of allegiance should be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, and saluting.
  • b. When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute at the first note and hold the salute through the last note. The salute is directed to the flag, if displayed, otherwise to the music.
• §8 The Flag in Mourning
  • a. To place the flag at half staff, hoist it to the peak for an instant and lower it to a position half way between the top and bottom of the staff. The flag is to be raised again to the peak for a moment before it is lowered.
  • b. The flag is to be flown at half staff for eight days in mourning at the death of an archimandrite, incumbent or retired; of a hegumen or abbot, incumbent or retired; and of a demarch, incumbent or retired.
  • c. The flag is to be flown at half staff on the Saturday of Meatfare Week, the second Saturday of Great Lent, the third Saturday of Great Lent, and the fourth Saturday of Great Lent
  • d. The archimandrite may also designate other times when the flag is to be flown at half mast.
  • e. When used to cover a casket, the upper point of the triangle points to the left side of the deceased. It should not be lowered into the grave, but folded ceremoniously and given to the next of kin.

TITLE FIVE – INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

Public Law No. 7 [Levied Taxes] (2/16/2009)

• §1 A tax, known as the income tax, shall be levied annually on all income above a minimum amount. This income applies to citizens, businesses, and the monasteries. It is not levied on churches or public institutions.
• §2 A two percent tax, known as the tourist tax, shall be levied on the charges required by hostelries.
• §3 A two percent sales tax shall be levied on the sales of all merchandise.
  • a. Churches and public institutions shall be exempt from the sales tax.
  • b. A purchaser from such an institution shall present a sales exempt certificate to the merchant at the time of the purchase. No tax-exempt purchase may be made without it.
  • c. Individuals below a certain income shall be given a sales exempt certificate which shall be presented to the merchant at the time of the purchase. No tax-exempt purchase may be made without it.
• §4 No sales taxes shall be levied on food items or on drugs prescribed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the Monastic Republic or in the Hellenic Kingdom.
• §5 A three percent sales tax shall be levied on the purchase of all alcoholic beverages.
• §6 The wines produced by the monasteries shall be exempt from this sales tax.
• §7 A transportation tax of two percent shall be included in the fares requested for taxi service.