A police operation took place on Friday morning in order to vacate the delegation of the Esphigmenou Monastery of Mount Athos, which is located in the city center of Thessaloniki. The operation was ordered following a court order, which held that the area must be cleared out and handed over to the new brotherhood of the Esphigmenou Monastery. The bitter court case between the two rival brotherhoods had been going on for years.

During the police operation one monk and a few citizens were inside the delegation building and refused to depart. Ultimately the police prosecuted the monk and one citizen, with the others departing peacefully. The delegation is often used to host monks from the Monastery’s older brotherhood whenever they visit Thessaloniki for medical purposes.

The new brotherhood of monks that is to take over the Monastery was established in 2005 by order of Mount Athos’ Holy Community and is considered to be the legitimate occupants of the Esphigmenou Monastery. The older brotherhood however has refused to hand over the Monastery and lodgings, which has periodically lead to clashes between the two brotherhoods.