Russian Monk Arrested for Illegal Stay on Mount Athos

A Russian monk was arrested at the "Macedonia" airport in Thessaloniki, accused of illegally residing on Mount Athos for nearly three years. The cleric had entered Greece on January 15, 2022, and was required to leave by February 28, 2022, but remained in the country.

In March 2022, he visited Mount Athos with a three-day permit, but stayed there for almost three years. His arrest took place on Wednesday, and he was brought before the Single-Member Misdemeanor Court of Thessaloniki, where he was sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of 5,000 euros.

The monk stated that he had been living at the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon, also known as the "Russian Monastery," since March 1, 2022. He accepted the charge, claiming that he did not know that extending his stay was a crime and that he initially could not find a return ticket.

Applying the new law, he was given the option to serve his sentence or return to Russia, and he chose to return to his homeland.