Finally some good news: Orthodoxia News Agency has just reported that the Holy Mountain will again receive pilgrims from tomorrow, May 11, 2021. The lock-down period ends today, May 10th. However, there are restrictions:
- for each monastery ten diamonitiria/visitors,
- for each koinobitic skiti five,
- for each idiorritmic skiti two and
- for each kelli or hermitage one diamonitírion/visitor.
Hiking/travelling from one monastery to another is still forbidden, you can only visit one monastery. The restrictions include the mandatory tests for the coronavirus at the entry points of the Holy Mountain, with only those with negative results beiing allowed to enter.
According mr Lolis Christos from the Pilgrimsoffice in Ouranopolis/Thessaloniki these few special permits are given by the monasteries or skitis/cells themselves. We will have wait a little more until the general permits to visit Athos reopen.
For a few pilgrims this is good news, let’s hope that the general permit for all pilgrims will be back soon.
Wim Voogd, 10-11 May 2021
