×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Friday
30
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 16°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

Jessie J: ‘Cancer was the harshest thing my breasts ever had to endure’

January 30, 2026

Erdogan wants a mediating role between Tehran and Washington, and pushes for trilateral talks between Türkiye, Iran, and the US

January 30, 2026

Trump nominates Kevin Wears for Fed chairman

January 30, 2026

Natural disasters: When early prevention offers protection

January 30, 2026

WD-40: The ultimate commercial success and the big secret

January 30, 2026

Prosecutorial investigation into responsibility for the Violanta tragedy: What is being examined

January 30, 2026

The unknown chapel of the Three Hierarchs in Pagrati, where Alexandros Papadiamantis chanted hymns

January 30, 2026

Cyprus: 13 kilograms of TNT go missing from National Guard firing range

January 30, 2026
All News

> Lifestyle

Jessie J: ‘Cancer was the harshest thing my breasts ever had to endure’

The singer spoke with humor and honesty about her diagnosis, mastectomy, and the shift in perspective the illness brought

January 30, 2026

Celia Kritharioti: Her new collection was presented at Paris Fashion Week with an “Old Hollywood” feel

January 29, 2026

Eurovision 2026: Greece climbs to third place in predictions

January 28, 2026

Athina Onassis makes rare public appearance at Paris Haute Couture week

January 28, 2026

Paul Newman in a rare, unpublished photo from his visit to Athens in 1962

January 27, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα