Monasteries on Mount Athos, an important Orthodox Christian spiritual centre for centuries, have denied that the Archbishop Elpidophoros of America’s visit to the monestaries was canceled because in July 2022 he baptised two children of a gay couple. The archbishop will be visiting Mount Athos on the occasion of the Feast of Epiphany accompanied by 40 pilgrims from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The pilgrimage will begin on January 18, 2024 at the Holy Monastery of Xenophontos, where His Eminence will officiate at the vigil and the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Feast Day of the Epiphany as well as the blessing of the waters on January 19.