The rotating Holy Administration, or Iera Epistasia in Greek, of the semi-autonomous monastic community of Mount Athos on Monday passed from the Monastery of Great Lavra to the Holy & Great Monastery of Vatopedi, with centuries-old Athonite rite observed.
The Elder Georgios of Vatopedi assumed the duties of “protos”, or premier of the Holy Administration, which functions as the executive of Mount Athos’ Sacred Community.
The Elder Georgios will be joined by monastic representatives of the Holy Monasteries of KarakAl-lou, Koutloumou-SI-ou and StavroniKIta.
Deputy Foreign Minister Costas Vlassis represented the Greek government, while the deputy civil governor of Mount Athos, Aristos Kasmiroglou, was also present, along with representatives of all 20 monasteries on the holy mountain.
In reply to an address by Vlassis, the Elder Nikodimos of Great Lavra thanked the minister for the support of the Greek state to the monastic community, such as restoration works on the peninsula and cooperation to deal with the pandemic.