Actor and director Mel Gibson is on a private spiritual retreat at the ancient monastic sanctuary of Mount Athos in northern Greece, a rare public sighting that comes as he is reportedly preparing for a sequel to his film "The Passion of the Christ."
Mr. Gibson, 69, arrived over the weekend at the remote and sacred peninsula, staying at the historic Serbian Orthodox Hilandar Monastery.
In photos circulating online, the filmmaker, known for his devout and traditionalist Christian faith, was seen receiving a blessing from a monk with holy water.
According to Greek media reports, Mr. Gibson has been participating in daily services and told monks, “I have never felt such a strong connection to God anywhere else as here.”
His visit is seen by many as a reflection of his deep, and at times controversial, religious convictions. Some observers have speculated that the pilgrimage could be part of his spiritual preparation for his much-anticipated film about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is expected to begin filming this year.
Mount Athos, a self-governing monastic republic that has been a center of Orthodox spirituality for more than a thousand years, maintains a strict "avaton" rule that prohibits women from setting foot on its territory.
It has long been a destination for pilgrims and seekers from around the world.
For Mr. Gibson, the quiet reverence of the Holy Mountain offers a stark contrast to the glare of Hollywood, a place he recently described in an interview as often hostile to Christian belief.