Four Moldovan women accidentally breached a ban dating back to 1060 when they were dropped off on the Greek monastic peninsula of Mount Athos.
They told police they had sailed from Turkey after paying $6,300 to two Ukrainian people smugglers, but were unaware they were breaking Greek law.
Women are banned from Mount Athos, home to 20 monasteries and considered Orthodox Christianity's spiritual home.
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Animal ban
The four women, aged between 27 and 32, and a Moldovan man, aged 41, were discovered by the monks at the weekend.
"They told police and the monks they were sorry but they couldn't have known this was a no-women area," a police officer told Reuters.
"They were forgiven."
Under Greek law, breaching the ban can lead to a jail sentence.
Women - even many female domestic animals - have not been allowed on the mountain since a decree banning women was issued by Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomachos in 1060
(BBC)
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