“Under detention remains the 35-year-old Romanian monk who was arrested on Mount Athos on charges of assaulting a 53-year-old Belarusian monk.
Criminal charges for severe bodily harm have been filed against him, and he has been referred to the Thessaloniki Autonomous Three-Member Misdemeanor Court. He requested a postponement, which was granted.
The court date has been scheduled for Tuesday, despite a contrary proposal by the local prosecutor’s office.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in the guesthouse of the Serbian Holy Monastery of Hilandar.
It appears that the two monks had consumed alcohol, and the cause of the altercation is reported to be a disagreement related to a doctrinal matter, as stated in the case file.
“What is this, Mr defendant?” asked the court’s president when she approached the defendant’s stand to request a postponement.
In response, he apologised, claiming that he, too, had been subjected to blows by the 53-year-old monk, even pointing out the areas on his face where he is believed to have been struck.
The court president advised him to seek medical attention if he did not feel well.
The 35-year-old stated that he does not permanently reside on Mount Athos (he is reportedly living in a Monastery in Karditsa), explaining that he had been there temporarily “for a few days” in the Athos polity.
He also mentioned that he has known the victim for many years.
In the meantime, the 53-year-old was initially treated for head injuries at the General Hospital of Polygyros in Chalkidiki and was subsequently transferred preventively to the Hippocratic Hospital in Thessaloniki, according to a document submitted to the court.
Source: AMNA
