Mt. Athos, June 10, 2025
Photo: wikimedia.org
A powerful 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck the historic Orthodox monastic community of Mt. Athos on Saturday afternoon, causing damage to the Simonopetra Monastery and other sacred sites on the peninsula. The earthquake, which occurred at 15:46 local time with its epicenter located in the sea area near the monasteries of Xenophontos and Dochiariou, has prompted widespread concern among seismologists and monastic communities alike.
The Simonopetra Monastery bore the brunt of the seismic activity, with monks reporting severe shaking and visible structural damage, reports thestival.gr.
“We shook a lot! In the monastery, the earthquake caused the chimney to fall, the chandelier in the refectory fell, plaster came off the walls—there’s quite a bit of damage,” a monk from Simonopetra told local media.
Another monk from the same monastery described the intensity of the tremor: “It was the biggest earthquake we’ve felt. Earthquakes have been happening constantly for a year now, but this one was the most alarming and it continues with aftershocks. It doesn’t stop and we’re all on alert.”
Seismologist Kostas Papazachos warned that aftershocks will continue in the coming hours and days in the Mt. Athos area. He noted that while the fault is not large, there has been persistent seismic activity in the region for several months.
Professor Efthymios Lekkas, president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, described the seismic activity as a “strange phenomenon” that began 14 months ago, peaked last summer and in September, then ceased before returning in February and now resuming with greater intensity.
A specialized team inspected four monasteries: Dochiariou, Xenophontos, St. Panteleimon’s, and Simonopetra. The team found damage primarily in churches and main monastery buildings, including cracks in masonry, collapsed tiles and plaster, and fallen chandeliers. At Simonopetra, some structural elements between windows were also damaged. However, officials emphasized that the damage does not threaten the monasteries’ structural integrity.
Ilias Pertzinidis, president of the Technical Chamber of Greece/Central Macedonia, estimated the total restoration cost at approximately $7-9 million. He noted that the monasteries’ resilience stems from traditional construction techniques that absorb seismic energy and decades of restoration work. The damage was classified as requiring immediate attention but not posing immediate structural risks.
More than 70 aftershocks have been recorded since the main earthquake, with 30 measuring above 2.0 on the Richter scale. Authorities have advised monks and visitors to avoid damaged buildings and choose safe routes, particularly in areas with steep terrain. The inspection team will continue evaluating additional monasteries throughout the week to provide a complete damage assessment.
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