Mount Athos: Monks of the Esphigmenou Monastery Report Attack by Laypeople

Monks from the Esphigmenou Monastery on Mount Athos have reported an attack by two laypeople wearing clerical attire late Thursday afternoon (May 22, 2025). According to a Facebook post from the Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou: ‘On May 22, 2025, at 8:00 PM, while three members of the brotherhood were clearing weeds from a plot near the seized section of the monastery’s delegation in Karyes as part of the annual beautification for the upcoming feast of the Assumption, they were suddenly and inexplicably attacked by two unknown individuals. The attackers emerged from the seized building of our monastery, wore clerical robes, but do not belong to Mount Athos or the Eastern Orthodox Church. One of them injured a member of the Esphigmenou Monastery’s brotherhood by hitting him on the head with an object and fists. He also verbally abused and threatened two other monks while throwing foul water at them. An ambulance was called, which transported the injured monk to the Health Center of Mount Athos, and the Karai Peninsula Police Department was informed. The brotherhood of the Esphigmenou Monastery once again denounces the indifference of the Greek government, which allows the ongoing seizure of both the monastery and its delegation in Karyes, endangering the physical safety of its members… The enforcement of law, security, and legality on Mount Athos, which is exclusively under state jurisdiction, has proven to be non-existent. We demand the obvious: protection of our lives, dignity in living, and protection of our religious freedom! Mercy upon us! From the Holy Monastery.’