by Romfea.news
The director of Mount Athos, Konstantinos Dimtsas, paid an official visit to Russia, after being invited by the authorities of St Petersburg.
Mr. Dimtsas had a meeting with Governor Alexander Beglov, who gave a meal in his honor, in the presence of government officials.
In his address, Mr. Beglov underlined that it is the first time that a political director officially visits Russia, adding that Orthodoxy and Mount Athos constitute the common spiritual, historical and cultural roots of Russia and Greece, while referring to his many experiences of pilgrimage visits to the Monastic State of the Holy Mountain.
“Mount Athos,” he said characteristically, “belongs to Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarch, and we come as mere pilgrims; it is a place of deep serenity and spiritual peace, a place of religious veneration, as well as of soul uplifting.”
Mr. Dimtsas, in his speech, urged the Orthodox people to visit Mount Athos, at least once in their life time. He characterized the Holy Mountain as a precious diamond for Greece, Orthodoxy and the Ecumenical Patriarch, and pointed out that the Greek state surrounds it with affection and protects it.
“We are really proud,” said Dimtsas, “that this unique peninsula, with monks and ascetics, who guard and preserve the orthodox faith and tradition, the orthodox truth, the Orthodox ethos, is in Greece.”
In Moscow, Mr Dimtsas met with the Prosecutor General of Russia, Yuri Chaika, and the Aide to the President of the Russian Federation, Igor Levitin.
