MOUNT ATHOS, May 28. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived at Mount Athos, where ceremonies marking 1000 years of Russian monasticism there will take place.

The president is first expected to arrive in Karyes, the administrative center of the Holy Mountain, where he will visit the Church of Protaton. In Karyes he will be welcomed by Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Protos of Mount Athos Paulos of the Holy Mountain and members of the Holy Kinot. A brief prayer will take place at the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady.

Then Putin will meet with members of the Holy Kinot, the governing body of Mount Athos, during which he will make a statement.

After that Putin will go to the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon, where he will be welcomed by the monastery’s Hegumen, Schema-Archimandrite Ieremia, who turned 100 last September.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, will meet Putin there. This will be followed by a brief church service and a speech of Patriarch Kirill and the Russian president. During the visit to the monastery and its library, Putin is expected to have a conversation with Patriarch Kirill and Shema-Archimandrite Ieremia.