Athos closed to pilgrims

Holy Mount Athos. Photo: gidvgreece.com
On March 19, 2020, the monasteries of the Holy Mount Athos were closed to pilgrims; those who are staying on the territory of the “monastic republic” should leave it by the morning of March 20, the Greek news publication Romfea reported.
Monks were also prohibited from moving from monastery to monastery. The monastics are permitted to arrive at Athos or leave it only by the license of their monastery.
Entrance of employees or other persons is possible only at the request of Athos and with the special permission of the Holy Epistasia (the main executive body of the administration of the Athonite Monastic Autonomy – Ed.).
Earlier, an Italian pilgrim with suspected coronavirus was hospitalized in the monastery of Hilandar on Mount Athos.
We will remind that Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople decided to stop worship in all churches because of the coronavirus.
Read also
Court upholds UOC parish appeal in Voloshky over OCU switch dispute
The Northern Commercial Court of Appeal has upheld the appeal of the St. Nicholas parish of the UOC in the village of Voloshky, Volyn region, in a dispute over a transfer to the OCU.
Zelensky says 9.5M Ukrainians expected to return home from abroad
Zelensky stated that 9.5 million Ukrainians who left abroad are expected to return home to rebuild the country.
German theologian criticizes Ukrainian authorities' pressure on UOC
German theologian Regina Elsner has said that pressure from the authorities on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church places an additional heavy burden on believers during the war.
Poland bans entry to Lviv official over SS Galicia and UPA glorification
Polish Foreign Minister initiates entry ban on Lviv Regional Council deputy who proposed declaring 2027 the Year of the UPA.
OCU award winners stage provocations at UOC court hearings, media report
Rallies outside courts hearing UOC cases are organized by activists who received awards from Dumenko.
Khust Eparchy priest who shot people in Vyshkovo banned from ministry
The Khust Eparchy of the UOC has notified police that it has banned from ministry a priest suspected of killing three people in Vyshkovo, Transcarpathia.