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
Several thousand pilgrims are walking in the cross procession from Volhynia to Pochaev
A state media outlet reported 2,000 participants in the UOC cross procession to the Pochaev Lavra.
In Germany, relics of Saint Martin stolen from a Catholic church
In Germany, unknown individuals broke into the Church of Saint Martin, smashed the glass at the altar, and stole the relics of the church's patron saint.
Two Sunday school pupils of the UOC were killed in an airstrike on Sumy
In Sumy, 10-year-old Sofia and 5-year-old Emilia – pupils of the UOC Sunday school – were killed under the rubble of their own home following an airstrike.
Authorities give Moldovan deputy prime minister tour of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi was shown the damaged Dormition Cathedral at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and briefed on plans for its restoration.
Supreme court sends Kremenchuk UOC church “transfer” case back for review
The appellate court will reconsider the case concerning the unlawful re-registration of the Holy Dormition UOC community in Kremenchuk into the OCU structure.
Orthodox chapel miraculously survives wildfire in Greece
A small Orthodox chapel on Crete survived amid land scorched by wildfire, becoming a symbol of hope for local residents.