The arrest of the Abbot of the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos, Archimandrite Ephraim, runs counter to decisions by the European Court of Human Rights, the Russian Foreign Ministry official spokesman Alexander Lukashevich has said.

The official voiced concern that by ordering the clergyman's arrest, the Greek judiciary ignored his willingness to cooperate with the investigation as well as his deteriorated health condition.

A lawsuit has been filed against Archimandrite Ephraim on charges of abuse of office in dealing with real estate. But he has strongly rejected all the accusations. In autumn this year, Archimandrite Ephraim brought an Orthodox relic normally kept at the Vatopedi Monastery, the Cincture of the Virgin Mary, to Russia. The relic is worshipped by Orthodox Christians.

The Cincture travelled around Russia for 40 days, so millions of believers in many Russian cities were able to come and worship it. This was the first time the Cincture has ever left Greece.