Alexis Tsipras, leader of the ELAS party who has previously described himself as an atheist and has not maintained close ties to the Orthodox Church, visited Mount Athos this week, posting photos from the trip on social media.
In his post, Mr. Tsipras wrote: "You chant at Simonopetra, and it echoes into the underworld... A visit to Mount Athos is always an opportunity not to miss.
A journey into history, into cultural treasures preserved for centuries, and into the deeper meaning of human existence."
Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis responded with a pointed jab on X, quoting Mr. Tsipras's post.
"For someone who calls himself an atheist, the rascal puts it quite beautifully," Mr. Georgiadis wrote.
Mr. Tsipras has periodically visited Mount Athos over the years, including as prime minister, drawing both praise for reaching across Greece's religious-political divide and skepticism from critics who have questioned whether such visits reflect genuine faith or political calculation, particularly given his past public statements identifying as a non-believer.