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COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions
DAILY HIGHLIGHT
COVID-19 in Mount Athos: Adapting Ancient Practices to Modern Realities

Religious communities worldwide are adapting beloved rituals and traditions. Celebrations of Easter, celebrated today in Christian Orthodox communities, is no exception. This shines a spotlight on a remarkable and very distinctive community, the Monastic Autonomous Republic of Mount Athos. Despite its isolation, the coronavirus has disrupted life there.

Situated on a peninsula in the Aegean Sea, Mount Athos has served as a center of organized monastic life since the year 963 CE, with about 2,000 Orthodox monks of different traditions today. The extraordinary regime is exempted from the authority of the local bishop, coming directly under the responsibility of the Ecumenical Patriarch. It is a Greek territory, its affairs managed by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The legal status is protected by the Greek Constitution, ruled by the Charter of Holy Mountain, which was approved in 1926. The Abaton, the strict rule of law in force, for example forbids any female creature from visiting, with two exceptions: hens (for eggs, used in cooking and for icon painting) and cats (to hunt rodents). Because many legal provisions differ from principles of the European Union (for example the closure to women), its special status was included in the Final Act of the Agreement concerning the accession of the Hellenic Republic in the European Economic Community (1979), the exceptions justified on spiritual and religious grounds.

It appears that three monks who had visited Great Britain to transport a fragment of the sacred relic of St. George from the Xenophontos Monastery brought COVID-19 to Mount Athos, though it could also have been a visiting pilgrim. After discussions Mount Athos is now closed to pilgrims and visitors. The Greek government adopted containment policies early on, and Mount Athos followed these rules. Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew further instructed the temporary suspension of churches services till the end of March, later extended indefinitely. Religious services continue and the monasteries receive supplies from the regular ferries. Worship, however, has been modified. On Friday, March 27, into Saturday, March 28, the monks of Mount Athos, in every monastery, skete, and cell, held an all-night vigil against the pandemic, the vigil dedicated to the Panagia, protectress of the Holy Mountain, as well as the Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, noted especially for his miracles in vanquishing plagues and epidemics. In all the monasteries, during matins, a special canon to the Holy Trinity for deliverance from pestilence was chanted, as well as a canon to the Theotokos and a canon to Saint Haralambos. Thus although the port is closed, worships and prayers continue. The Holy Community also asked to hold cross processions with relics and wonderworking icons at the discretion of and according to the custom of the holy monasteries.


(Based on: April 15, 2020, Diresom Paper
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