THESSALONIKI, Greece — In the secluded monastic enclave of Northern Greece, known as Mount Athos, a series of earthquakes has inflicted damage on its ancient monasteries, authorities reported on Friday.
The seismic activity began on June 7 with a magnitude 5.3 earthquake striking the Mount Athos peninsula, and has been followed by ongoing tremors both from beneath the sea and on land, continuing into this week.
These earthquakes have resulted in “severe cracks” in the dome of the Monastery of Xenophon, which dates back to the late 10th century. According to the Culture Ministry, the earthquakes also harmed religious frescoes in that monastery and several others.
Mount Athos holds significant religious importance for Orthodox Christians and is commonly known as the Holy Mountain. It serves as a semi-autonomous monastic republic with a total of 20 Orthodox monasteries.
The community, despite being under Greek sovereignty, strictly maintains its traditional practices, including a longstanding prohibition on female visitors.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni emphasized the archaeological, historical, and spiritual value of Mount Athos, and assured that all repairs would be managed in adherence to scientific and ethical guidelines. Mendoni stated that restoration efforts, particularly structural reinforcements and art repairs, will be both expanded and expedited.
A comprehensive evaluation of the damage is anticipated next week, which will provide more detailed insights, as announced by the Culture Ministry.
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