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Putin on Mount Athos pilgrimage
Putin on Mount Athos pilgrimage
Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting the monastic community of Mount Athos in Greece, one of Orthodox Christianity's holiest sites.
He is the first Russian leader to visit the male-only community, on a narrow, rocky peninsula east of Thessaloniki, Russian television reported.
The trip is part of Mr Putin's two-day visit to Greece.
Ahead of talks with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, Mr Putin described Greece as a serious partner.
He said the two countries held similar positions on issues such as Cyprus and the Balkans, and that it was important to press ahead with energy projects such as a planned oil pipeline.
Multi-national community
Mr Putin arrived at the monastic harbour of Dafni on board a private yacht amid heavy security.
He was due to visit at least two of the site's 20 monasteries, one of which is Russian.
This trip is his third attempt at visiting what is considered to be the cradle of Orthodox Christianity, the main religion in Russia.
His plan to visit last year had to be cancelled following the Beslan school siege. A previous attempt in 2001 was scrapped because of bad weather.
Mr Putin has openly embraced the Orthodox faith, despite having served as a KGB officer in Soviet times.
Some 1,500 monks live in the semi-autonomous monastic community, which is also known as Holy Mountain.
It houses Serbian, Bulgarian, Romanian, as well as Russian, monasteries and monks are entitled to Greek and European citizenship regardless of their country of origin.
Women - even many female domestic animals - have not been allowed on the mountain since a decree banning women was issued by Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomachos in 1060.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/h...pe/4229342.stm
Published: 2005/09/09 17:05:10 GMT
© BBC MMV
Putin on Mount Athos pilgrimage
Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting the monastic community of Mount Athos in Greece, one of Orthodox Christianity's holiest sites.
He is the first Russian leader to visit the male-only community, on a narrow, rocky peninsula east of Thessaloniki, Russian television reported.
The trip is part of Mr Putin's two-day visit to Greece.
Ahead of talks with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, Mr Putin described Greece as a serious partner.
He said the two countries held similar positions on issues such as Cyprus and the Balkans, and that it was important to press ahead with energy projects such as a planned oil pipeline.
Multi-national community
Mr Putin arrived at the monastic harbour of Dafni on board a private yacht amid heavy security.
He was due to visit at least two of the site's 20 monasteries, one of which is Russian.
This trip is his third attempt at visiting what is considered to be the cradle of Orthodox Christianity, the main religion in Russia.
His plan to visit last year had to be cancelled following the Beslan school siege. A previous attempt in 2001 was scrapped because of bad weather.
Mr Putin has openly embraced the Orthodox faith, despite having served as a KGB officer in Soviet times.
Some 1,500 monks live in the semi-autonomous monastic community, which is also known as Holy Mountain.
It houses Serbian, Bulgarian, Romanian, as well as Russian, monasteries and monks are entitled to Greek and European citizenship regardless of their country of origin.
Women - even many female domestic animals - have not been allowed on the mountain since a decree banning women was issued by Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomachos in 1060.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/h...pe/4229342.stm
Published: 2005/09/09 17:05:10 GMT
© BBC MMV
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