The Parliament’s plenary session approved a report giving the green light for the revision of the status of the peninsula of northern Greece inhabited solely by monks.
The Greek Orthodox Church, in its latest Ecclesia Report, announced that «the plenary session of the Euro-Parliament passed a proposal-report prepared by French Euro-deputy Fode Sylla concerning the EU Fundamental Rights situation for 2002, which includes, among others, a reference to the special status enjoyed by the monastic community of Mount Athos, in northern Greece.»
According to the Euro-deputies, the controversial point is that the isles of Athos do not allow entry to women. The Euro-deputies see this prohibition as an infringement on women’s human rights, so they asked the Greek government to revise the prohibition.
The Sylla report received only negative votes by the deputies of the Greek Socialist government. If the proposal goes forward, it might face a second vote.
The Greek government and the Orthodox Church defend the situation of the status of the monastic community because of its 1,000-year link with the country’s traditions, values, symbols and religious faith.
