Kyriakos Mitsotakis Visits Mount Athos

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived by helicopter in Karyes, the administrative center of the Mount Athos monastic state, for a two-day visit. He was formally welcomed in the central square by Protopresbyter Avraam and the political administrator of Mount Athos, Alkiviadis Stefanis.

The Prime Minister was led to the entrance of the Protaton, where he greeted the abbots and representatives of the twenty monasteries and venerated the icon of the Virgin Mary “Axion Esti.”

A doxology followed at the Protaton, with an address by the Protos and a response from the Prime Minister. According to vimaorthodoxias.gr, Mitsotakis expressed gratitude for the warm reception and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting Mount Athos’ spiritual mission, recognizing its significance as a symbol of national identity and Orthodox tradition.

The Prime Minister then proceeded to the Holy Community Hall for a meal with the members of the Double Holy Synaxis (abbots and representatives of the monasteries). Following this, he visited the museum located in the same building.

Over the course of his visit, extending into Saturday, July 5, Mitsotakis will tour the Holy Monasteries of Iviron, Vatopedi, Simonopetra, and Xenophontos. Accompanying him are Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis, Deputy Minister of Interior (Macedonia-Thrace) Kostas Gioulekas, Secretary of the Political Committee of New Democracy Kostas Skrekas, MP for Halkidiki Yiannis Giorgos, and Mayor of Aristotelis Stelios Vallianos.

Source: pagenews.gr