Mt. Athos, February 14, 2024
Photo: vimaorthodoxias.gr
Buckingham Palace reported last week that King Charles, 75, has been diagnosed with cancer.
In a recent interview, Archimandrite Ephraim, the Abbot of Vatopedi Monastery, one of the 20 ruling monasteries on Holy Mount Athos, revealed that King Charles reached out to him after receiving his diagnosis, reports Vima Orthodoxias.
“I believe he’ll overcome it,” Elder Ephraim said. “Charles has a spiritual culture within him. He knows about the spiritual life,” he continued.
King Charles has visited the Holy Mountain many times, including eight visits to Vatopedi.
Though not Orthodox, Prince Charles is known to take an interest in the Church and has spoken out in defense of persecuted Eastern Christians. He has helped to raise money towards several Orthodox treasures, including for the restoration of the Athonite Hilandar Monastery in 2011.
King Charles’ father, Prince Philip, was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church, though he later became Anglican before marrying Princess (the future Queen) Elizabeth.
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