Monk admitted to hospital following violent altercation at monastery, stemming from long-standing disagreement spanning decades.
An Orthodox Christian monk has been hospitalized following a violent confrontation at the Esphigmenou Monastery on Mount Athos, Greek authorities confirmed on Friday. The altercation, involving a monk from the officially recognized brotherhood and his rivals wielding gardening tools, transpired during routine groundskeeping work at an administrative building.
Hospital officials in Thessaloniki reported that the injured monk is being treated for facial and upper body injuries sustained from the assault. The self-governed monastic territory, home to centuries-old monasteries that strictly adhere to prayer and spiritual life, is located approximately 175 kilometers east of Mount Athos. Women are prohibited from entering this area.
The longstanding dispute at Esphigmenou Monastery centers on the brotherhood's persistent defiance of church and court orders to vacate the premises. The monks have resisted recognition of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's authority, leading to decades of repeated clashes, legal battles, and supply blockades with church-appointed replacements.
As a result of these ongoing tensions, the situation at Mount Athos remains volatile. The rebellious monks, sustained by donations from outside supporters, continue to challenge the authority in place.
Numerous confrontations have taken place since the early 1970s, with no resolution in sight. The authorities expressed concern over the latest incident, hoping for a peaceful resolution that maintains stability within this historically significant monastic community.
Mount Athos has recently made headlines as a cargo ship narrowly missed a house in Norway on awakening, highlighting the potential dangers that can arise in unexpected ways. Other news includes analyses on the impacts of the Trump tax bill on personal finances, a Norwegian musician's announcement of a brain disorder prompting concert cancellations, the GOP's tactics to penalize political enemies through tax laws, and research indicating that a certain type of mammogram is more effective for women with dense breast tissue.
Reference(s):
- https://www.apnews.com/article/96eab75e64084a79b1492597e016b9f8 (The Associated Press)
- https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/monk-hospitalised-after-attack-disputed-greek-monastery-2023-05-23/ (Reuters)
- https://www.dw.com/en/monk-hospitalised-following-attack-on-mount-athos-monastery/a-62295635 (Deutsche Welle)
- https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/277766/ (EKATHIMERINI)
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/24/monk-admitted-to-hospital-after-violent-confrontation-over-disputed-greek-monastery (The Guardian)
In the midst of ongoing tensions at Mount Athos, a monk from the Esphigmenou Monastery was hospitalized following a violent confrontation, as reported by news sources. This altercation, rooted in the monks' defiance of church and court orders, has been a longstanding source of dispute, leading to numerous confrontations since the early 1970s. The general news landscape also covers Seattle politics, crime-and-justice issues, analyses on the impacts of the Trump tax bill on personal finances, and research on those who might benefit from certain types of mammograms for dense breast tissue.
