Greece sues monastery over real estate dispute

The conservatives later canceled the deals, acknowledging they had hurt the public interest. But the scandal cut deeply into the former government's popularity, contributing to the governing Socialists' landslide electoral victory last October.

Early Tuesday, Greek lawmakers are due to vote on a proposal by the Socialist majority for parliament to investigate whether charges should be brought against six conservative former ministers and deputy ministers over the land exchange.

The proposal calls for the six to be probed over possible breach of faith and duty in allowing the deals.

If lawmakers vote for the investigation, the final decision on any prosecution would be taken in a ballot by the plenary session of parliament, where the Socialists have a seven-seat majority.

In its legal action against the monastery, the government also seeks to have its ownership confirmed on all the land it claims in the dispute. An Athens court is due to discuss the lawsuit in January.

Vatopedi Monastery is located in the semiautonomous Mount Athos monastic community in northern Greece, which women -- and female animals -- are banned from entering.

The Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi (Greek: Βατοπέδι or Βατοπαίδι) on Mount Athos was built during the second half of the 10th century by three monks, Athanasius, Nicholas, and Antonius, from Adrianople, who were disciples of Athanasius the Athonite. A legendary tradition says that its construction was ordered in the 5th century by Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius on the site of a church built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century. Theodosius built the monastery to honour the miraculous salvation by the Virgin Mary of her son from a shipwreck. The child is said to have been found in a brier bush -- hence vatos - βάτος "brier" and paidi - παιδί "child".

Orthodox monk in the Vatopedi monastery.From then onwards several buildings have been constructed, most of them were built during the Byzantine period and during the 18th and 19th centuries when the monastery reached its highest peak.

About 100 monks live in the monastery today, where extensive construction projects are underway to restore the larger buildings.

The monastery is open for public view. Reservations to stay at the monastery are required in addition to the permit to enter Mount Athos.