The 35-year-old Romanian monk who was arrested on Mount Athos on the charge that he brutally beat a 53-year-old Belarusian monk, sending him to the hospital with head injuries, remains in custody.

He was charged with grievous bodily harm and was referred to be tried at the Autoforo Three-member Criminal Court of Thessalonikifrom which he requested an adjournment.

The request was accepted and a hearing was set for tomorrow, but the court decided to keep him in custody until then, despite the prosecutor’s proposal to the contrary.

“What are these, Mr. Defendant” the court president asked him when she went up to the defendant’s stand to ask for an adjournment.

Answering, himself apologized, claiming he too had been hit by the 53-year-oldshowing – in fact – with his hand the places on the face where he was allegedly hit.

The president advised him to go to a hospital if he doesn’t feel well.

Visitor to Mount Athos – Knew the 53-year-old

The incident happened on Sunday afternoon in the courtyard of the Holy Monastery of Hilandari.

The two monks seem to have consumed alcoholwhile the cause of the fight was allegedly a dispute concerning doctrinal issueas stated in the case file.

The 35-year-old Romanian said that he is not permanently leaving Mount Athos (he reportedly lives in the Holy Monastery of Karditsa), stressing that he was temporarily “for a few days” in the Athonian State.

He also mentioned that they have known the victim for years.

In the meantime, the 53-year-old was initially hospitalized with head injuries at the General Hospital of Polygyros, Halkidiki, and then – as a precaution – at the Hippocrates Hospital of Thessaloniki, according to a document presented to the court.