February 5, 2011

Russian Athonite Monastery of St. Panteleimon Currently In Flames


According to Romfea.gr, the building of St. Panteleimon's Monastery on Mount Athos is currently on fire. The report as of a few hours ago stated that fire trucks were on the way to the Monastery.

According to Salonica News, six fire fighters with two trucks were notified. Another four vehicles with twelve firefighters were also notified.

Nothing else is reported at this time.

It should be noted that the Monastery of St. Panteleimon has repeatedly been the victim of fires, most famously in 1307 (when Catalan mercenaries set it aflame) and in 1968.

Read more about the Monastery here.

Two current photos below of the fire were provided by ΑΓΙΟΡΕΙΤΙΚΕΣ ΜΝΗΜΕΣ. This source tells us that the fire is contained and has no danger of harming the katholikon or the Sacred Vessels of the Monastery. The two fire trucks came from the Monasteries of Simonopetra and Xeropotamou which were brought to St. Panteleimon by the ferry named "Saint Anna".