Why ROCOR should place itself under the MP

TomS · Post by **TomS** » Wed 1 September 2004 8:54 am

Huge security for Putin’s Mt Athos trip

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Mount Athos this weekend has prompted a huge security operation involving hundreds of people.

The Russian leader will arrive at the semi-autonomous monastic republic on the Halkidiki peninsula aboard a destroyer on Saturday morning. His vessel will be flanked by two Russian submarines.

Fears of a possible attack by Chechen rebels at one of Orthodox Christianity’s holiest sites have also led to 40 of Putin’s personal bodyguards already arriving to secure the area and set up two-and-a-half tons of telecommunications equipment. Several hundred Greek policemen will help with the security operation.

Putin is expected to stay until Sunday, visiting the monasteries of Megisti Lavra, Iviron and the Russian monastery of Saint Panteleimon.

Ukrainian monks currently outnumber Putin’s countrymen at the monastery and it is thought he will ask Athos’s Holy Assembly to induct more Russian monks.

According to sources, Putin plans to announce that Russia will pay for the reconstruction of an abandoned, 900-room hostel at the monastery. He will also present two bells to the church at Karyes, the capital of the all-male Orthodox republic.

The Russian president’s visit will be shown live on television in his homeland, a first for Mount Athos.

The Russian Consulate in Thessaloniki, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) away, is organizing tours to Mount Athos on Saturday for Russian immigrants to ensure President Putin receives a warm welcome.

John Haluska · Post by **John Haluska** » Wed 1 September 2004 10:15 am

May God grant the Holy Fathers of Esphigmenou Monastery, the True Confessors of Orthodoxy on the Holy Mountain.......

MANY BLESSED YEARS!

John

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Wed 1 September 2004 10:18 am

This sounds like a diplomatic trip, not a spiritual pilgrimage.

I don't see what it has to do with ROCOR, other than it pointing to secular leaders being more welcome on Mount Athos at this point than ROCOR (or other traditionalist) monks, who get evicted from their own monasteries.

TomS · Post by **TomS** » Wed 1 September 2004 10:29 am

Justin Kissel wrote:
This sounds like a diplomatic trip, not a spiritual pilgrimage.

And what exactly in the article would lead you to this conclusion?

Natasha · Post by **Natasha** » Fri 3 September 2004 2:01 pm

Putin Postpones Greece Visit
AFP: 9/3/2004
ATHENS, Sept 3 (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday postponed a planned visit to Greece in the wake of the hostage crisis in southern Russia, a Greek government source said.

The decision was made due to "the events in North Ossetia," according to the source, who said the announcement had been made by Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis, currently at an EU meeting in The Netherlands.

The Russian leader was due to travel to Mount Athos, one of Orthodox Christianity's holiest sites, in the north of the country, a visit the Greek authorities said last week had "a special importance."

Putin had also been due to meet Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis in the nearby town of Salonika, the source said.

The visit was to be the first by a Russian president to the Athos peninsula over which Greek and Russian monks, each backed by their countries, fought in the early 20th century.

He was scheduled to visit the monasteries at Great Lavra, Ifiron and the Russian monastery at Saint Panteleimon during his 24-hour trip.