Putin heads to Greece for business, Orthodox Christian site

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives at the Athens international airport on Friday, May 27, 2016. Russia’s president is due in financially struggling Greece Friday for a state visit that will include a trip to a 1,000-year-old, all-male Orthodox Christian sanctuary in the north of the country. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) (The Associated Press)

Russian President Vladimir Putin inspects the honor guard during his arrival at the Athens international airport on Friday, May 27, 2016. Russia’s president is due in financially struggling Greece Friday for a state visit that will include a trip to a 1,000-year-old, all-male Orthodox Christian sanctuary in the north of the country. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) (The Associated Press)

Russia's president is travelling to financially struggling Greece for a visit that will include a trip to a secluded, male-only Christian Orthodox sanctuary in the country's north.

Vladimir Putin is to discuss energy cooperation and Russian investments in Greece during a meeting Friday with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Some 2,500 police will provide security for Putin's visit in Athens, and much of the city center will be blocked off to motorists and public transport.

On Saturday, Putin will visit the Monastery of St. Panteleimon, which is inhabited by Russian monks. It's set in the 1,000-year-old Mount Athos autonomous monastic community, from which women are banned.

He will be accompanied by the head of Russia's Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, who arrived in northern Greece on Friday.