Putin visits monastic community in Greece

Putin visits monastic community in Greece
By Catherine Hardy with ERT, REUTERS, AFP
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The Russian President joined celebrations marking the 1,000 th anniversary of the Russian presence at Mount Athos.

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Vladimir Putin rounded off his two-day trip to Greece with a private visit to the monastic community of Mount Athos, one of Orthodox Christianity’s holiest sites.

The Russian President joined celebrations marking the 1,000 th anniversary of the Russian presence at the secluded Christian Orthodox monastic sanctuary.

“A bridge of friendship and cooperation”

Greece can be “a bridge of friendship and cooperation” between the EU and Russia because of its “traditional historic relations” with Moscow.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras made the claim as a joint press conference in Athens with the visiting Russian President.

“It is widely recognised that rivalry between the Europe and Russia will affect the future of the EU. So, Greece is useful because it can be a bridge of friendship and cooperation.”

Alexis Tsiprashas criticisedsanctions imposedon Russiaand pledgedto strengthenrelations withVladimir Putin. pic.twitter.com/b5iJlgIDFZ

— UK News (@UK__News) May 28, 2016

The two leaders met to discuss how to strengthen bilateral relations between their two countries.

It is the first bilateral visit by Putin to an EU member state for more than a year.

Economic deals were also signed between Russia and Greece.

Mount Athos

Putin rounded off his two-day trip to Greece with a private visit to the monastic community of Mount Athos, one of Orthodox Christianity’s holiest sites.

He joined celebrations marking the 1,000th anniversary of the Russian presence at the secluded Christian orthodox monastic sanctuary.

Vladimir PutinvisitsGreece's all-male Mount Athos monasteryhttps://t.co/hlupAxtK6Bpic.twitter.com/NcwzYvXmME

— IBTimesUK (@IBTimesUK) May 28, 2016

Putin travelled to the remote peninsula by boat, accompanied by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias.

He then travelled on overland to the monastery of St. Panteleimon, which is inhabited by 70 Russian, Ukrainian and other Russian Orthodox monks.

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