Greek monk sent to the hospital following a monastery altercation connected to a long-standing conflict

THESSALONIKI – A monk of the Orthodox Christian faith had to be taken to a hospital after a violent altercation at a monastic sanctuary in northern Greece, authorities reported on Friday. The clash appears to be connected to an ongoing religious disagreement that spans several decades.

Medical staff at the hospital in Thessaloniki mentioned that the monk is currently under medical care for injuries to his facial area and upper body, having been transported from Mount Athos, which is situated approximately 175 kilometers (110 miles) to the east.

Mount Athos serves as an autonomous monastic community in Greece, hosting ancient monasteries where monks dedicate themselves to prayer and spiritual pursuits. The region strictly prohibits the entry of women.

At the center of the ongoing conflict is Esphigmenou Monastery, whose brotherhood continues to defy court and church orders to vacate the premises. They refuse to recognize authority over them by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the spiritual home of the Eastern Orthodox Church based in Istanbul, Turkey.

This religious rift has led to repeated violent clashes, legal battles, and supply blockades between members of the defiant brotherhood and church-appointed replacements. The controversy, which began in the early 1970s, was compounded by court decisions against the rebel monks, who are sustained by donations from outside groups of supporters.

According to monastic authorities, the latest incident occurred late Thursday, when a monk from the officially recognized brotherhood was attacked by rivals wielding gardening tools during routine groundskeeping work at an administrative building.

Father Bartholomew, abbot of the new brotherhood, told The Associated Press that the young monk sustained facial and rib injuries from punches and blows with a wooden object. He added that a description of the alleged attacker was provided to police and that a Thessaloniki public prosecutor had also been formally notified.

“What is the point of having these decisions (to expel the monks) if they are not enforced? They must be implemented,” Bartholomew said.

In an online statement, the breakaway brotherhood denied the accusations.

“It is a well-known tactic for these perpetrators to play the victims,” it said. “They feigned injury in a performance worthy of an acting class.”