Putin Visits the Holy Mountain

On September 9, 2005, while on a working visit to the Republic of Greece, V.V. Putin, the President of the Russian Federation visited Holy Mount Athos.

At the port of Athos, Daphne, the head of the Russian Federation was met by the governor of the Holy Mount, George Dalakyros, after which President V.V. Putin and the personnel accompanying him went to the administrative center of Athos-Karyes. Here the President of the Russian Federation and the Russian delegation were met by the Sacred Kinot of the Holy Mountain, at the head of which the Protos, Monk Paul, and the Hegumens and representatives of the the Athos monasteries. In his capacity as representative of the Constantinopolitan Patriarch the Metropolitan Demetrios of Sebaste took part in the welcoming ceremony, and he welcomed the President of Russia, in the name of the His Holiness the Patriarch, and pointed out the importance of a visit by him to the Holy Mountain.

In the very ancient Holy Dormition temple, V.V. Putin venerated one of the greatest of Athos’s sacred treasures-the wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God “It is truly meet.” A molieben was served here, after which President V.V. Putin and members of the Russian delegation visited the Holy Kinot’s building.

Words of greeting were extended by the Sebaste Metropolitan Demetrios, the Protos, and the governor of the Holy Mountain. In the name of the Kinot, the Protos gave V. V. Putin and icon of Saint Athanasius of Athos, while the governor gave him an icon of the Theotokos.

Addressing the members of the Sacred Kinot, the Russian President thanked them for the warm reception afforded him and underlined the special spiritual connection between Russia and Greece, and, in part, Athos. VV. Putin, in part, remarked that Russian is a state with a rather large Orthodox population, as, the historical seeds of Christianity entered Russia from Byzantium and Greece. Thus, the relationship between Russia and Greece, which have a long and rich enough history which provides the necessary prerequisites for growth in a spirit of complete trust. Speaking of the connections between Russia and the Holy Mountain, the President remarked that Russia was ready to completely restore their centuries-long relationship. According to V.V. Putin’s words, “This has to be a harmonious relationship, based on absolute trust and shared spiritual ideals.”

The special importance of the ties between Russia and Athos had been mentioned at the meeting earlier between V.V. Putin and the Prime Minister of Greece, C. Caramanlis. The head of the Greek State remarked that Holy Mount Athos, which the high-ranking Russian guest would visit is “the connecting link in the relations of our peoples.”

In the Guest Book of the Sacred Kinot the President left a commemorative inscription: ” To all Ascetics, servants of the Lord, all Christians of Orthodox Faith and the Guardians of Orthodox sacred treasures, respectfully, V.Putin.”

The President of Russia presented the Sacred Kinot a gift of the Vladimir Icon of the Theotokos.

After a reception at the Kinot in honor of this important Russian guest, V.V. Putin went to the Monastery of Iviron, where the head of the Russian state was met by the Hegumen of the community, Archimandrite Vasileos (Gontakakis) and the brotherhood. The President went to the Monastery’s Catholicon, where a short Molieben was served.

Then the Hegumen of the community talked about the history of the monastery and its numerous ties with Russia. Father Vasileos recalled, among other things, the Iviron chapel located in the center of Moscow, which has now been restored, after being destroyed during the years when the Church was persecuted. The Hegumen expressed his conviction that he main strength of the Russian people was its love of God, about which the great Russian writer F.M. Dosoevsky wrote so clearly. Archimandrite Vasileos likewise remarked on the importance of further growth of friendly relations between the peoples of Greece and Russia. As a gift to the President of Russia, Archimandrite Vasileos presented an icon of the Mother of God with the inscription: ‘Most Holy Theotokos, protect thy servant, Vladimir.”

“You are right, the strength of Russia is spirituality before everything else,” answered V.V. Putin to Archimandrite Vasileos’s greeting. After thanking the Hegumen and the brotherhood of the community for the warm reception, the President said that the revival of Faith is one of the foundations of Russia’s present revival. The head of state commented on the extremely good relationship between the Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Alexi, and the monasteries of the Holy Mountain, including the community of Iveron. V.V. Putin also thanked the Hegumen for the icon.

Then the President went to the chapel of the Iveron Icon attached beside the Metochion, where he venerated that great Holy Treasure. Upon his departure, the Russian President signed the Guest Book of the monastery.

Going on, the President arrived at the Russian Saint Panteleimon Monastery. At the entrance, the head of the Russian state was met by the brethren of the Monastery, headed up by the Hegumen, Archimandrite Jeremiah (Alekhin). While the bells were rung and the sound of the song, ‘It is truly meet,” sung by the monastery choir, V.V. Putin went to the temple of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, where he venerated the Saint’s relics. The brethren served a short Molieben, during which, according to Athos usage, the Great Chandelier was swung, which is usually done during Great Feasts.

After the Molieben, the Hegumen of the Monastery, Archimandrite Jeremiah spoke to the President of the joy occasioned by the visit of this high guest and, as a prayerful memento, gave him a copy of the icon of Saint Panteleimon.

The President thanked the brethren for preserving the spiritual treasures and “for serving the Lord, to Whom you have devoted your whole life.” The head of state also gave the monastery a new Tabernacle for the Altar. Then V.V. Putin visited the monastery’s temples of the Protection and of the Dormition of the All-Holy Theotokos., as likewise the temple of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, went up into the monastery belltower where he rang on a bell three times, and he likewise visited the monastery’s sewing factory.

After venerating the communities Sacred items, the President took part in the brethren’s trapeza. After the trapeza, the head of state thanked the inhabitants of the community for their prayers for Russia and for all Orthodox Christians. “As a sign of recognition in the name of the entire Russian people,” V.V. Putin awarded the Hegumen of the monastery, Archimandrite Jeremiah (Alekhin) the Order of Friendship..

This high award was authorized Father Jeremiah by an Ukaz of the President of September 3rd, for ” Great contribution to the preservation and increase of spiritual and cultural traditions, to the strengthening of friendship between peoples.

The President also thanked the Greek authorities and the governor of Athos “for help and support” shown to the representatives of Russia by the brethren of the Monastery

During the visti of the President to Mouth Athos, there was also present the deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Dept. of External Church Relations, Bishop Mark of Egor’ev.

Taken from the website of the Moscow Patriarchate and translated by His Grace Tikhon, The Bishop of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the West; The Orthodox Church in America