Greece - Mount Athos

GREECE

Mount Athos, a World Heritage Site, is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece containing 20 stavropegial Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Today Greeks commonly refer to Mount Athos as the "Holy Mountain". Mount Athos is the oldest surviving monastic community in the world. It dates back more than a thousand years, to Byzantine times. Although the peninsula of Mount Athos is part of Greece, it is an unique self-governed state in the Hellenic Republic. The region is governed by the “Holy community” under the ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. As for the religion itself, it arose after a split with the Church of Rome in 1054, largely due to questions concerning the authority of the pope. Because of its isolation, Mount Athos has remained one of the most unspoiled parts of Greece. The landscape is stunning and wild, with small green valleys and gorges, well wooded peaks interspersed with precipitous ravines and an inaccessible coastline. Small streams of crystal clear water run free under the deep shade of the chestnut trees. It is a land where myth is entwined with history, miracles mingle with reality.

According to the legend Panagia, the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, was sailing accompanied by St. John the Evangelist on her way from Joppa to Cyprus to visit Lazarus. When the ship was blown out of course to then pagan Athos it was forced to drop anchor near the port of Klement, close to the present monastery of Iviron. The Virgin walked ashore and, overwhelmed by the wonderful and wild natural beauty of the mountain she blessed it and asked her Son for it to be her garden. A voice was heard; "let this place be your inheritance and your garden, a paradise and a haven of salvation for those seeking to be saved". Since that moment the mountain was consecrated as the garden of the Mother of God and is out of bounds to any other women. The imperial document (typicon), known as the avaton, was established permitting only men to enter Mount Athos but no female may set foot on the peninsula. 

Mount Athos

To visit one of the monasteries, men must obtain permits (diamonitirion) from the Pilgrims' Bureau in advance, and crowds are limited to 100 per day. Once you have gained permission from the Pilgrims' Bureau you must contact each monastery where you plan to stay. Without their consent you will be turned away. The "general diamonitirion" usually granted to visitors allows you to stay a maximum of three days, visiting monasteries at will. The more rare "special diamonitirion" allows an unlimited stay at only one monastery. Once there, serious contemplation and meditation are encouraged; gawking tourism is not. Visitors are allowed to eat and room with the monks, as well as participate in daily work routines.

The monasteries on Mount Athos can be reached only by ferry, either from Ouranoupoli (for west coast monasteries) or from Ierissos for those on the east coast. Many visitors arrive at the port of Dafni (Daphne), from where they continue by bus to the "capital" Karyes. Smaller boats, people carriers and taxis ferry pilgrims from monastery to monastery. For boat schedules, check here.

It is possible to walk from monastery to monastery. The longest walk is from Agia Anna to Great Lavra (six to seven hours). Many of the ancient footpaths are still clear but from time to time it will be necessary to walk on the roads.

There are also sightseeing boats that do tours around the peninsula without landing; these require no permits, and are the only option for women who want to get a glimpse of Mount Athos.

Read more A pilgrimage to the Monasteries of Mount Athos

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