Charles was reportedly once a regular visitor to Archmandrite Ephraim at his Greek monastery (Pictures: X/@OrthodoxUSA/Getty Images)
A Greek Orthodox monk has said King Charles sought his spiritual advice several times following the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.
Archimandrite Ephraim, who serves as the abbot at the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi in north-eastern Greece, claimed he has a ‘very good rapport’ with the 75-year-old.
Charles revealed he was being treated for cancer on February 5, with a statement from Buckingham Palace explaining it was discovered during a procedure for an enlarged prostate.
The king has since stopped carrying out public visits – though he has continued with official duties such as his weekly audience with the prime minister.
Speaking to the Sun, Elder Ephraim said: ‘Charles has a spiritual sophistication, a spiritual life.
‘Yes, he has been in contact since the diagnosis and I believe he’ll overcome it.’
His monastery is located on the slopes of Mount Athos, a peak at the end of a picturesque Greek peninsula renowned for its links to early Christianity.
According to the newspaper, Charles has his own quarters at the long-established site.
The monastery at Vatopedi is around 1,000 years old (Picture: Wikimedia Commons)
A source told the Sun: ‘There are no distractions so he can meditate, pray and follow ancient rituals like getting up at 4am to follow the liturgy which he absolutely adores.’
The king’s father, Prince Philip, was born in Corfu and baptised into the Greek Orthodox church before his family was exiled from the country in 1922.
In 2021, Charles – then Prince of Wales – paid an official visit to Greece to mark the 200th anniversary of its independence.
However, Archimandrite Ephraim has never spoken publicly about his friendship with the monarch before.
King Charles has kept up his regular meetings with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak despite his diagnosis (Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)
The pair reportedly became close following the death of Princess Diana in 1997, with the abbot offering spiritual guidance.
Between spring 2003 and May 2004, Charles made three ‘clandestine’ trips to Mount Athos, according to the Guardian.
The same article mentions claims that Ephraim was a ‘frequent visitor to Highgrove’.
Palace spokesperson Kirstine Clark told the newspaper at the time: ‘Visits [to Vatopedi] are very much in his private time, so we don’t issue details.
‘What I can say is that he is interested in the architecture and spirituality of Mount Athos.’
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