1885, I came to save Greece

Chapter 181 The Tax of Knowledge

Father Callinicus's temporary residence in Athens was located in a chaotic and overcrowded slum.

This place, compared to the opulent mansions of the bishops not far away, seemed like two completely different worlds. There, the air was filled with the scent of expensive cigars and French perfumes, while here, there was only the damp, musty smell and the sighs of the poor.

His dwelling was a dark little hut rented from the butcher, with only one small window. Inside, besides a bed made of hard planks, a wooden box that served as a desk, there was only a rough wooden cross nailed to the wall.

When Constantine changed into civilian clothes late at night and quietly arrived here under the protection of Alexandros, he saw that familiar back view again.

Callinicus knelt on the cold, stone ground, facing the cross on the wall, praying softly. His coarse cloth monk's robe was faded from washing, and in the dim light of the oil lamp, his silhouette resembled a silent and resolute mountain.

Hearing footsteps behind him, he did not turn around, but calmly completed his final prayer and made the sign of the cross on his chest.

"Your Highness, the worldly glory you possess is like a torch in the darkness; no matter how you try to conceal it, it cannot be hidden." He stood up, turned around, and his deep-set eyes shone with an astonishing light.

Constantine gestured for Alexandros to wait outside the door.

He entered the shabby little house, which was so simple it could be described as barren. The walls were bare and the air was chilly.

"Father, it seems you are not having a pleasant time in Athens," Constantine said.

“The Lord’s servants need no pleasure.” Callinicus’s voice, like his dwelling, was devoid of any superfluous embellishment. “While my colleagues quarreled over the ownership of land, I heard only the laughter of the devil.”

Constantine did not get straight to the point.

He took out the letter from Thessaly, which smelled of earth, from his pocket and handed it over.

"Father, what you are hearing may not be the laughter of the devil, but the cries of believers."

Callinicus took the letter and, by the dim light of the oil lamp, read it word by word. His brow furrowed more and more, and his fingers, gripping the letter tightly, turned white at the knuckles.

When he finished reading the last word, he closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

"Ignorance is the breeding ground for evil," he said softly.

“No,” Constantine corrected, “Ignorance is the high wall that prevents the glory of God from shining into the hearts of believers. We have solved the famine of the flesh, but a more terrible famine of the soul is spreading across this land.”

Constantine's voice had a seductive power.

"Father, imagine this. How can an illiterate farmer understand the teachings of the Bible? How can a worker who can't do arithmetic distinguish between a priest's sermons and the devil's lies? Are we to stand by and watch the Lord's lambs, because of their ignorance, wander in the wilderness and ultimately be devoured by wolves?"

Callinicus suddenly opened his eyes, a flame igniting within them.

Constantine's words struck a chord with his deepest anxieties. He had witnessed too many so-called "believers" commit crimes out of ignorance and abandon their faith out of ignorance.

"Your Highness, what do you wish to say?"

Constantine knew the time had come.

He stopped beating around the bush and directly unveiled the long-planned scheme that was enough to overturn the entire Greek church.

"I want to build schools in every corner of Greece."

"I want every child to be able to read and write."

"And I need the Church's help," Constantine said, looking into Callinicus's eyes.

"I hope that you, at the sacred council, will propose a motion. I will call it, 'The Tithe of Knowledge'."

"Tithe?" Callinicus repeated the ancient and sacred word.

"Yes." Constantine's voice was low, like a devil's whisper or an angel's gospel. "I propose that the Greek Orthodox Church 'voluntarily' donate one-tenth of the annual income from all its land and property to establish an independent 'National Education Fund.' This fund will be used specifically for building schools and promoting education throughout the country."

Callinicus's breath hitched.

One-tenth of the income!

This is tantamount to cutting off a large, tender piece of meat from the church, this fat bull!

He could almost imagine the furious reaction from Yermanos and his ilk when the proposal was put forward.

But he didn't refuse immediately; he was waiting for Constantine's next words. He knew that this prince never did anything that would be a losing proposition.

"Of course," Constantine said with a kind smile, "in exchange, this state-led education system will also provide the church with generous rewards."

"All newly built public schools will be required to offer Orthodox ethics courses, instilling the Lord's teachings in children from a young age."

"All teachers of moral and ethical courses will be selected from within the church, from among the most upright and devout priests. Their salaries will be entirely paid by the 'National Education Fund,' which is the national treasury."

The flames in Callinicus's eyes instantly transformed into a raging inferno.

He instantly understood the chilling implications behind Constantine's plan!

This isn't about asking for money at all!

This is a power exchange! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to directly instill truly pure doctrines into the next generation of Greece, bypassing those already corrupt bishops and local clergy!

With this plan, he could legitimately place thousands of his own people throughout the country who were loyal to pure faith rather than local interests! These "ethics teachers," paid by the state and directly indoctrinating students with doctrine, would become the most solid foundation for his reshaping of the entire Greek church in the future!

Constantine used one-tenth of the church's money to obtain the start-up funds for establishing a national education system.

And he, Callinicus, will use this one-tenth of the money to gain control of the future of the entire Greek Church!

This is a huge gamble!

A devil's pact that stakes the future of the nation and faith!

The light in Callinicus's eyes gradually shifted from fanaticism to a near-martyr's resolve.

He straightened his hunched back, his whole being resembling a drawn sword.

He bowed deeply to Constantine.

"Your Highness, you are not demanding anything from the Church; you are using Caesar's power to pave a bright path to the future for God!"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement.

"I agree!"

"I will personally propose this motion at the Holy Council! Whether they consider me a traitor or a heretic! Even if they want to tie me to the stake and burn my body in flames, I will do it!"

A look of satisfaction finally appeared on Constantine's face.

What he wanted was the almost fanatical fervor of Callinicus. Only such a "madman" could breach the Church's fortified stronghold.

Before leaving, Constantine took a heavy document bag sealed with sealing wax from Alexandros and handed it to Callinicus.

"Father, this is your weapon."

Callinicus accepted it with a puzzled look.

"Here are the preliminary audit results from the Royal Intelligence Service on several of the wealthiest parishes—including Patras Parish," Constantine said, his voice devoid of any emotion.

"Now is not the time to use it."

"But if there are some people who are stubborn and insist on blocking God's light from shining on the children..."

Constantine did not continue.

He simply patted Callinikos on the shoulder.

"Then please use this report to let them see how utterly vulnerable their filthy and ugly shadows are before the Lord."

Callinicus gripped the heavy file folder as if he were holding each bishop by the neck.

He knew that what he held in his hands was the karmic fire of hell, and also the key to heaven.