The Free Monks (Eleftheroi) are a Greek rock band of black-robed Orthodox monks who, through their music and other activities, have attempted to interact with Greek young people and to break away from the mould of Orthodox clergy as stiff and distant. The example of the Free Monks provides an instructive case study of current attempts to modernize Greek Orthodoxy and to enhance its popular appeal, particularly among young people.

HELLENO-ORTHODOXY IN CONTEMPORARY GREEK IDENTITY

In order to grasp the social mission and appeal of the Free Monks it is important to understand the Greek religious landscape--i.e. the socio-religious environment from which the group was born. Crucial in this respect is the link between national identity and the religious tradition in Greece. The bonds between Hellenism and Orthodoxy in Greece are summed up in the concept of "Helleno-Christianity", an all-encompassing notion embracing not only culture, but also a larger historical, intellectual and spiritual heritage that continues to shape modern Greek identity up to this day. (1) "Helleno-Christianity" is the term used by Greek historians and intellectuals to represent the historical and cultural continuity of ancient Greece, through Byzantium, to modern Greece (Makrides 1991; Tsoukalas 1999). Helleno-Christianity is in some respects synonymous with Helleno-Orthodoxy, which has played such a key role in modern Greek identity.

Orthodoxy lends itself historically to nationalism, and it is with this in mind that the Church of Greece continues to justify its legitimacy in Greek society. Helleno-Orthodoxy is a body of thought which holds together the national unity of Greece both institutionally and culturally. On the one hand, the bonds of Greek society and Orthodoxy are maintained through a variety of institutions (Church, state, education) as well as cultural and religious activities. On the other, Helleno-Orthodoxy resonates in various aspects of contemporary Greek public life, including Church-state relations, civil/religious celebrations, popular religiosity, rites of passage and the education system.