×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Wednesday
10
Dec 2025
weather symbol
Athens 11°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> Travel

Rift between Ecumenical Patriarchate and Russia affects religious tourism in Greece

Over 800.000 Russian visitors arrived in Greece in 2018

Newsroom October 22 04:58

The rift between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church, after the former recognised the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has had a negative impact on religious tourism to Greece. According to information from representatives of religious tourism offices and groups, the number of visitors from Russia to Mount Athos in Macedonia, the holy mountain for 300 million Orthodox Christians, as well as other destinations in Greece has seen a dramatic fall over the past days as many tourists have cancelled their pilgrimages to these sites. According to romfea.gr, a rising number of visitors, families, and groups from Russia who had planned to visit primarily religious destinations in Greece cancelled their trips. This follows the interruption of communion between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Russia after the Patriarchate, seated in Constantinople recognised the Ukrainian Church’s right to be split from Moscow and have an autocephalous national church. Russians visitors make up 60% of the pilgrims in the monasteries of Mount Athos in Greece, according to data from the press service of Rosturizm and the Greek Ministry of Tourism. According to data, Russian tourists to Greece amounted to over 800,000 last year, with the aim for the next season of reaching 1 million, receiving a serious setback after the developments.

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#Ecumenical Patriarchate#Ecumenical Patriarche Bartholomew#Mount Athos#pilgrims#russia#tourism#visitors
> More Travel

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

Jennifer Lopez: Ex-husband launches new attack, accuses her of infidelity with Diddy

December 9, 2025

Copernicus: 2025 is on track to become the second-warmest year ever recorded

December 9, 2025

Zelensky says he is ready for elections

December 9, 2025

See which European country spent the most on OnlyFans in 2025 – and where Greece ranks

December 9, 2025

Tractors on the roads: truths and lies about the farmers’ roadblocks

December 9, 2025

Oncology patients’ appointments at PAGNI cancelled due to farmers’ occupation of the airport: The necessary radiopharmaceutical never reached Heraklion

December 9, 2025

Turkstream’s managing company will move its headquarters to Budapest to circumvent sanctions

December 9, 2025

Outstanding Dublin III cases for the potential return of thousands of migrants from Europe to Greece are being wiped clean – What the agreement provides

December 9, 2025
All News

> Politics

Outstanding Dublin III cases for the potential return of thousands of migrants from Europe to Greece are being wiped clean – What the agreement provides

European “clean slate” plan for old cases – Return backlogs to Greece are erased up to the start of the new Pact – What changes after 12 June 2026 and Germany’s role

December 9, 2025

Mitsotakis for a pension of 1,700 euros to those affected by Mati and Mandra: Our minimum duty to help and never forget

December 9, 2025

Hadjivassiliou: Turkey is annoyed by the fact that Greece has become an energy hub

December 9, 2025

Interview Poll: Over 30% support ND — Voters’ views on Tsipras and Karystianou

December 9, 2025

Sisi – Haftar meeting in Cairo on Egypt-Libya EEZ delimitation: What it means for Greece

December 8, 2025
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2025 Πρώτο Θέμα