President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation visits Holy Mount Athos

President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation on a working visit to the Greek Republic visited Holy Mount Athos on 9 September 2005.

The head of the Russian state was met at the harbour of Dafni by the Holy Mount governor Georgios Dalakouros. President V.Putin and his suite proceeded to Karyes, the administrative centre of Athos, where President V.Putin and the Russian delegation were met by the members of the Holy Kinot of Holy Mount led by its protos monk Paul, and abbots and representatives of the Athonite monasteries. Taking part in the ceremony as a representative of the Patriarchate of Constantinople was Metropolitan Dimitrios of Sebasteia who greeted the President of Russia on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and noted the importance of the visit.

In the ancient Church of the Assumption V.Putin venerated a greatest Athonite shrine – the miraculous ‘It is Truly Meet’ Icon of the Mother of God. After the prayer service President V.Putin and members of the Russian delegation visited the Holy Kinot.

Metropolitan Dimitrios of Sebasteia, protos of the Holy Kinot and the governor of Mt.Athos delivered welcoming speeches. On behalf of the Kinot the protos handed V.Putin an icon of St.Athanasius of Mt.Athos, and the governor – an icon of the Mother of God.

Addressing the Holy Kinot members, Russian President thanked them for warm reception and underscored the special spiritual bond between Russia and Greece in general and Mt.Athos in particular. V.Putin noted that Russia was a state with the predominant Orthodox population, while historic roots of Christianity in Russia go back to Orthodox Byzantium and Greece. The relations between Russia and Greece have a long and rich history and can develop in the spirit of complete trust. Talking about relations between Russia and Holy Mount, the President noted that Russia was willing to restore these centuries-long relations. According to V.Putin, ‘these relations should be harmonious and based on absolute trust and common spiritual ideals’.

Prime Minister K.Karamanlis of Greece noted at the earlier meeting with V.Putin a particular importance of the relations between Russia and Mt.Athos. The head of the Greek government said that the Holy Mount which the high guest is going to visit, was ‘a connecting link in the relations between our nations’.

The Russian President wrote in the book of honorary guests of the Holy Kinot: ‘To all the zealots, servants of the Lord, to all Orthodox Christians and custodians of the Orthodox holy places. Respectfully, V.Putin’.

The Russian President presented the Holy Kinot with the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.

After the reception in honour of the high Russian guest given in the Kinot, V.Putin proceeded to the Iberian monastery, where he was met by the abbot of the monastery Archimandrite Vasilieos (Gondikakis) and the brethren. The President went to the cathedral, where a short prayer service was celebrated.

The abbot of the monastery told the guests about the history of the monastery and its centuries-long relations with Russia. Father Basil mentioned the Iberian chapel destroyed during the years of the persecution of the Church and recently restored in the centre of Moscow. The hegumen is convinced that the strength of Russian people lies mostly in their love to God about which a great Russian author F.M.Dostoevsky wrote so eloquently. Archimandrite Vasilieos also noted the importance of further development of friendly relations between Russian and Greek people. Father Vasilieos presented the Russian President with an icon of the Mother of God with an inscription ‘Most Holy Mother of God, intercede for thy servant Vladimir’.

‘You are right, the strength of Russia lies in its spirituality,’ – V.Putin said while responding to the greetings of Archimandrite Vasilieos. The President thanked the abbot and the brethren for warm reception and said that the revival of faith was a foundation of the current rebirth of Russia. The head of the state noted the benevolent attitude of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia to the Holy Mount monasteries, the Iberian monastery including. V.Putin presented the abbot with an icon.

The President proceeded to the chapel of the ‘Gatekeeper’ Icon of the Mother of God near the cathedral, where he venerated the icon and after that signed the book of honourary guests of the monastery.

The President of the Russian Federation was met at the entrance to the Russian St.Panteleimon’s Monastery by the brethren led by their abbot archimandrite Jeremiah (Alekhin). Under bell ringing and singing of the hymn ‘It is truly meet’ V.Putin proceeded to the Church of St.Panteleimon the Great Martyr and venerated the relics of the saint. The brethren celebrated a short prayer service. According to the Athonite tradition, large chandeliers were swinging, as is the custom on great feasts.

After the prayer service the abbot of the monastery archimandrite Jeremiah addressed the President and expressed his joy with the visit of the high guest and presented him with an icon of St.Panteleimon.

The President thanked the brethren for preserving the spiritual values and for their ‘service to the Lord to whom they have devoted their lives’. The head of the state presented the monastery with an altar tabernacle. V.Putin also visited the Churches of the Protecting Veil and the Assumption of the Mother of God and the Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel and went up the stairs to the bell-tower where he rang the bell three times. He also visited the garment workshop.

The President venerated the holy objects of the monastery and had dinner with the brethren. The head of the state thanked the monks for the prayers they offer up for Russia and for all Orthodox people. ‘As a sign of gratitude on behalf of all people of Russia’ V.Putin awarded the abbot of the monastery archimandrite Jeremiah (Alekhin) with the Order of Friendship. Father Jeremiah was honoured with high award by presidential decree of 3 September 2005 in consideration of ‘his great contribution to the preservation and development of spiritual and cultural traditions and for the strengthening of friendship among nations’.

The President thanked the authorities of Greece and the governor of Mt.Athos ‘for aid and support’ rendered to the brethren of the monastery who come here from Russia.

Bishop Mark of Yegorievsk, deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate was among those who accompanied the President on his visit to Holy Mount Athos.