Mount Athos Holy Community

Monastery of St. George the Zograf, Mount Athos
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zograf_Monastery.jpg
Author: Georgid


The Holy Community of Mount Athos (Αὐτονομη Μοναστικὴ Πολιτεία Ἁγίου Ὄρους) is a self-governed monastic state within Greece. It covers about 335 sq km and has a population of just around 2,000 people (2011 estimate). It occupies the easternmost tip of the Halkidiki peninsula, protruding some 60 km (37 mi) into the Aegean Sea.

Within the Mount Athos Holy Community is the namesake mountain, which stands at a height of 2,033 m (6,670 ft), and surrounded by steep, densely forested slopes. Although the area is connected to mainland Greece, it is only reachable by sea. The very tip of the peninsula has turbulent currents and has claimed many ships since antiquity - this was where Darius, the King of Persia, lost 300 ships in 492 BC.

Xenophontos Monastery, Mount Athos
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IMG_1037-20070424-xenophontos-monastery-a.jpg
Author: adriatikus


In Greek mythology, Athos was the name of one of the Gigantes, giants who challenged the Greek gods. Athos hurled a massive rock at Poseidon. The rock fell into the Aegean Sea and became Athonite Peninsula.

There is an early Christian belief that the Virgin Mary was on a boat with the Apostle John. The boat was blown to the then pagan Athos. She came to shoare, blessing it. From then henceforth, the mountain was a sacred garden to the "mother of god", and was off limits to all other women.

Mount Athos is home to some 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries. These monasteries are homes to communities of Christian hermits observing a monastic rule. They stay in often hard-to-reach sites to worship in solitude. These hermit communities, called skete, are styled like small villages. There are today twelve sketes on Mount Athos.

Stavronikita Monastery, Mount Athos
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stavronikita_Aug2006.jpg
Author: Thodoris Lakiotis


Representatives of the 20 Holy Monasteries of Mount Athos form a four-member executive committee governing the Holy Mountain. The administration of each monastery is under the care of the Abbot, elected to office by the brotherhood for life.

People wishing to visit the monasteries at Mount Athos need to seek special permission. Those who opt to lead a monastic life at the Holy Mountain are given Greek citizenship without further formalities. Nonetheless, of the 20 monasteries, only three have brethren from non-Greek ethnic backgrounds, the remaining 17 are composed of ethnically Greek brethren.

In 1988 Mount Athos was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site during its 12th session meeting in Brasilia, Brazil.

Esphigmenou Monastery, Mount Athos
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Esphigmenou_monastery_2006.jpg
Author: Asgozzi

Holy Monasteries of Mount Athos