Israeli Cruise Passengers Accused of Indecent Behaviour at Syros Monastery

by · Greek City Times

Passengers from an Israeli cruise ship have been accused of indecent behaviour at an Orthodox monastery on the Greek island of Syros, prompting an official complaint and condemnation from local authorities.

The allegations emerged on November 3, the same day the cruise ship Crown Iris was evacuated following a bomb threat at the port of Ermoupolis. No explosives were found aboard the vessel, and authorities have not established any connection between the two incidents.

Complaint alleges inappropriate behaviour in front of children

The controversy centres on a visit by passengers from the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris to the Monastery of Saint Barbara on the morning of November 3.

The monastery shares its grounds with a children’s centre called In the Palm of God (Στην Παλάμη του Θεού).

Read more: Crown Iris Cruise Ship Evacuated in Syros After Bomb Threat 

According to an official complaint by Archpriest Flavianos Albescu, director of the children’s centre, some members of the visiting group allegedly exposed themselves and urinated in shared areas of the monastery and children’s facility.

The complaint states that the alleged conduct occurred in the presence of teachers, parents and young children.

Albescu described the incident as an insult to the monastery, the children’s institution and the people who were present.

He also pointed out that surveillance cameras operate in the area and that recordings could assist any investigation into the allegations.

The footage has not been publicly released, and the allegations have not been established through a court finding.

Syros municipality condemns alleged conduct

The Municipality of Syros-Ermoupolis issued a statement on November 3 strongly condemning the reported behaviour.

The municipality referred specifically to allegations that visitors exposed themselves on the grounds of the monastery and children’s centre in front of minors.

Local authorities stressed that visitors are welcome on the island but must respect its residents, traditions, religious sites and cultural heritage.

The municipality also announced plans to meet with relevant authorities to examine the circumstances and consider measures to prevent similar incidents.

The response followed the formal complaint submitted by the children’s centre’s director.

Crown Iris evacuated following bomb threat

Later that day, the Crown Iris became the subject of a separate security incident after an unidentified person reportedly transmitted a bomb threat through a marine VHF radio channel.

The vessel, sailing under the Panamanian flag, was preparing to depart Ermoupolis for Haifa, Israel.

There were 1,537 people aboard, including 940 passengers and 597 crew members.

The ship’s captain immediately notified the Coast Guard, triggering a security operation involving specialist personnel, a trained detection dog and divers.

The evacuation of passengers began at approximately 7pm, with the municipality arranging temporary accommodation on Syros.

A specialist Coast Guard team completed its inspection at around 11pm but found no explosive device.

Passengers subsequently returned to the vessel, which resumed its journey to Haifa shortly after midnight.

Previous tensions surrounding Israeli cruise visits

The incidents have also drawn attention to previous tensions involving the Crown Iris and Israeli tourism in Greece.

In July 2025, pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested against the arrival of the Israeli cruise ship in Syros. The captain subsequently refused to allow passengers to disembark.

Similar demonstrations accompanied the vessel’s visits to other Greek ports, including Agios Nikolaos in Crete.

However, the previous protests, the allegations concerning individual passengers at the monastery and the November 3 bomb threat are separate incidents.

Authorities have presented no evidence establishing a connection between the alleged behaviour and the subsequent bomb threat. The identity and motives of the person responsible for the threat also remain unknown.

Both incidents warrant investigation, with the allegations against individual passengers requiring verification and the bomb threat remaining a separate matter for security authorities.

Sources: Municipality of Syros-Ermoupolis, ERT, MEGA TV and Kouti tis Pandoras. Original reporting: Athens News.

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