23. Jänner 2008 in English
More than 500 people demonstrated against the almost-1000-year-old rule that only male pilgrims may visit the holy mountain.
Greece (kath.net/closedcafeteriaMore than 500 people demonstrated against the almost-1000-year-old rule thatonly male pilgrims may visit the holy mountain. Six women, with cameras running,jumped over the fence that separates the monks' republic from the rest ofGreece. They were caught and led away by police. A spokeswoman for thedemonstrators, Kyriaki Malama, declared that the demonstration was a "symbolicgesture" against the old law from 1045. Police dispersed the gathering.
The holy Mount Athos is an Orthodox Monk's Republic with autonomousstatus, under Greek sovereignty. About 2500 monks live there.
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