Monk: Removing sign will incur 'wrath of God' Vows he'd go to jail before obeying Middletown ordinance BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer Archimandrite Ephraem MIDDLETOWN - A self-described Greek Orthodox monk is willing to go to jail rather than remove a lawn sign that declares his suburban home a monastery. On June 26, Township Code Enforcer Jim Glass said that he plans to issue a summons to Metropolitan Archimandrite Ephraem for refusing to remove a 4-by-6-foot sign that states his David Court split-level ranch is a Greek Orthodox monastery. The sign is in violation of a zoning ordinance that forbids such structures in residential areas, Glass explained. There is also a large cross on the front lawn, but this object is not subject to the ordinance, according to Township Attorney Bernard Reilly. "Nothing's being moved," Ephraem said on Friday. "And [Glass] told me that the cross and the sign had to be taken down, and I took him to the chapel and I said, this is a monastery and these objects are sacred." "It is not a lawn ornament," Ephraem said. "And once it's put up it's blessed and it's up until the end of the world. It cannot be removed, according to Hosea, or the wrath of God will flow upon you like a river. So I'm not putting that on my conscience." FILEPHOTO A Middletown code enforcer plans to give a summons to a self-described monk for refusing to remove this sign from his front lawn in the New Monmouth section. Ephraem said he only put the sign up after the township argued in tax court that his home does not qualify for tax exemption because there were no signs to indicate such. Glass inspected the property on June 14 after a neighbor complained that the sign might interfere with his ability to sell his home. Glass gave Ephraem a verbal warning, then mailed him a warning, giving him 14 days to remove the sign. "I have every intention of writing a summons on the 14th day because there's no reason not to," Glass said. "When someone tells you straight up to your face, 'I'm not going to comply,' there's no reason not to." Ephraem's attorney has already been in contact with the Middletown Building Department, Glass said. "His attorney called and asked for an appeals process," Glass said. "I told him he had to make an application to the Zoning Board for the sign but that they'll automatically turn it down. ... Then you'll have to go before the Zoning Board." Glass said that if Ephraem doesn't remove the sign, he may end up behind bars. "If someone just refuses to do what the judge tells them to do, eventually you'll be held in contempt," Glass said. "Eventually, he'll put them in jail." Ephraem said he welcomes the opportunity to be imprisoned. "I willingly go to jail for the sake of my holy obligation," Ephraem said. "If the bishop doesn't lead the way, who will? The opportunity to suffer for Christ would be a great blessing." Glass, a Roman Catholic, suggested that Ephraem read the Bible passage in Romans 13:1-4. According to the New American Bible, the passage reads as follows: "Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear to good conduct, but to evil. Do you wish to have no fear of authority? Then do what is good and you will receive approval from it, for it is a servant of God for your good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword without purpose, it is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evildoer." Glass said that he wasn't sure exactly what day he would issue the ticket, saying the date didn't really matter. "The time almost becomes a moot point when they tell you they're not going to comply," Glass said.