“After a large police operation, a thief was arrested on June 13th around 9 in the evening, who stole the votive offerings from the icon of Panagia Portaitissa at the monastery of Iviron, Mount Athos.
The offender is a 56-year-old Romanian national who was located in a forest area in the wider area of the Zograf monastery. He had also plundered other monasteries in the monastic community to the tune of at least 150,000 euros. Police said the suspect removed necklaces, jeweled medallions, crosses and as well other gold and silver items from the monastery of Agios Pavlou in December 2014. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that he had also snatched valuable items on another four occasions from monasteries on Mount Athos between November 2017 and May 2019 and sum of 4,300 euros was found. The suspect has been remanded in custody”. (news from Romfea.news and ekathimerini.com and other places on the internet)

It is unbelievable to see how some visitors of this peaceful part of the world can’t behave themselves and steal from the monasteries…

Wim Voogd, 17-7