An earthquake shakes Mount Athos

An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 on the Richter scale was recorded early on Tuesday in the area of Mount Athos, in northern Greece, reports “Romfea”.

The earthquake occurred at 07:12. The epicenter is located 39 km northwest of Mount Athos in the underwater zone at a depth of 10 km.

According to the Seismological Station of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the quake measured 3.3 on the Richter scale and its epicenter was 7-8 km south-east of Ierissos, at a depth of 10 kilometers.

On the Holy Mount and in the vicinity of Halkidiki, minor earthquakes are observed from time to time. Quakes with a magnitude of 4.9 points were recorded on Mount Athos in September 2012. The last devastating earthquake occurred in 1932 in the town of Ierissos. As a result of a large-scale natural disaster, the whole town of Ierissos literally was leveled, there were about 100 victims, and the town itself was never restored in its original form. It was then that about 10 monasteries of Holy Athos were seriously damaged.

As reported, on October 19-22, Patriarch Bartholomew is making a visit to Mount Athos to participate in the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the consecration of the Catholicos of the Xenophon Monastery. Greek media reported that the security of the movement and residence of Patriarch Bartholomew on Mount Athos is provided by 100 police officers and service dogs.