Mount Athos

The famed Abbott Ephraim of the Mount Athos Monastery has fallen into critical condition in his 11th day as a COVID-19 patient in Athens' Evangelismos Hospital.

The all-male monastic community of Mount Athos announced on Friday it will extend a ban on visitors or pilgrims until February 28, as part of measures against the coronavirus pandemic.

Additionally, staff or other essential visitors will be tested for the coronavirus at all entry ports to Mt. Athos.

A 76-year-old monk in Mount Athos died of Covid-19 last Saturday while six monasteries on the peninsula have been placed in quarantine, the monastic community's civil governor said on Wednesday.

The digital imaging of thousands of relics and manuscripts kept in monasteries on Mount Athos in northern Greece has been completed as part of the Athonite Digital Ark project after a process lasting two-and-a-half years.

Anyone arriving at Greece's land borders who test positive for the novel coronavirus will not be allowed to enter the country, Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias announced on Friday.

Speaking during a regular press briefing on the developments with the pandemic, Hardalias also said that authorities will ban visits to the monasteries of Mount Athos.

The all-male monastic community of Mount Athos in northern Greece reopened its doors to pilgrims on Monday, on the condition that they are in possession of the special permits required.

Entry is also allowed to all employees of the monasteries of the Athonite State. Visitors numbers, however, will be limited to 15 people per monastery.

The authorities of the monastic community of Mount Athos in northern Greece said in a statement on Wednesday that they recognize the necessity of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus but also noted, however, that the sacrament of Holy Communion "is absolutely necessary for the spiritual life" of worshippers.

Orthodox monks carry the holy icon of Axion Esti during a litany against the coronavirus pandemic, in Karyes, at the monastic community of Mount Athos, in northern Greece, on Wednesday.

The administration of the Mount Athos monastic community in northern Greece decided on Wednesday to continue prohibiting the admission of pilgrims and other visitors until April 20 as part of the measures against the coronavirus epidemic.

The only people excluded from the measure are employees and other "necessary professionals" the administration said.

A ban on visitors to the monastic community of Mount Athos in northern Greece, which was introduced on March 19 as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, has been extended through April 11. 

In view of the decision, the issuing of admission passes from the monastic community's offices in Ouranoupoli and Thessaloniki will be suspended until further notice.