The Mitsotakis family, through the pilgrimage visits of their male members, developed a particularly close relationship with Mount Athos.

For history visits by Acting Prime Minister and President and leader of New Democracy Konstantinou Mitsotakis they start from 1983, continue into 1986 – from where all the photographs are listed – and the photograph of 2000 follows.

For his part, his son Kyriakos, also the country’s prime minister and leader of the ND, accompanied his father on a visit in 1986, when he was 18, until a visit in 2000, which was also his last. Mitsotakis, followed by a visit in 2016 as leader of the ND and President of the Official Opposition, now ends in June 2023 in the middle of the election period as leader of the ND running for prime minister.

The photo album that we publish is also of particular value. They come from the lens and collection of a famous photographer George Christophoridiswho donated them, and they are kept in the Sacred Photo Gallery of the Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra.

Accompanying father Konstantinos Mitsotakis on a visit in 1986, 18-year-old son Kyriakos, fresh out of high school, stands out for the carelessness of his young age.

The touching presence of his son-in-law Pavlos Bakoyannis, husband of his daughter Dora. At that time, Pavlos had the status and duties of his father-in-law’s political adviser until June 1989, when he was elected MP for the ND in Evrytania. On September 26, 1989, he fell dead from bullets on November 17 in front of the front door of his political department.

The photographs also show the chief superintendent and governors of the Holy Epistasia of Vatopedi and the then governor of Mount Athos, Mr. Apostolos Glavinasthe theologian, as well as members of his retinue.