The monastic community on Mount Athos is preparing to receive its guest Russian President Vladimir Putin, Saturday, May 28. More specifically, the Russian President is scheduled to stay at the Saint Panteleimon Monastery, one of the 20 located on the third peninsula of Chalkidiki in Macedonia, northern Greece. ‘The Garden of the Virgin Mary’, as the cluster of monasteries has become known in the Orthodox Christian world due to its dedication to the Virgin Mary, is a UNESCO World Heritage Center with a population of nearly 2,000. It became a spiritual retreat during the reign of the Eastern Roman Emperor (Byzantine) Constantine Monomachos when the area was proclaimed a spiritual retreat for Orthodox monks.

Panteleimonos Monastery, which is celebrating its millennium this year, is considered the ‘Russian Monastery’ as its monks are all Russian. The monastery started drawing Russian monks from 1840 and its population reached a peak at the end of the 19th century with over 1,000 retreats.

Panteleimonos Monastery, which is made up of a number of smaller buildings, was sponsored by the Russian Czars, but after the rise of communism the complex declined. Since the ascent of Putin to power in Russia the Monastery has seen a revival and regained its past glory, following the renovation of most of the buildings.

All buildings follow a distinctly Russian architectural style with imposing interiors and 19th Century Russian-style religious paintings covering the walls.
Currently tens of Russian monks are living in the Monastery. The Russian President had visited the Monastery in 2005, while Russian Patriarch Cyril is expected in the city of Thessaloniki today before traveling to Chalkidiki.