Monastic community of Mount Athos

The monastic community living on the Mount Athos peninsula is an Eastern Orthodox community of monks in Northern Greece. These monks live in 20 monasteries and smaller places. They spend their time living quietly and simply, far from the busy world.

The monks come from many countries, including Serbia, Romania, Moldova, Georgia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Ukraine, Russia, and Greece. They live a peaceful life, studying old books and making beautiful artworks.

Mount Athos is very special because it has many old treasures, like rare books, important papers, and priceless artworks. In 1988, it was named a World Heritage Site for its history and culture. The area has its own rules, with help from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Because of its long traditions, women are not allowed to enter Mount Athos.

Administration and organization

The monastic community on Mount Athos is a special place in Northern Greece where monks live. According to the constitution of Greece, this area is mostly self-governed, meaning the monks manage their own affairs, but Greece still has overall control. Anyone who joins as a monk becomes a Greek citizen automatically. Only people who follow the Eastern Orthodox beliefs are allowed to stay there.

There are 20 main monasteries that make up the Holy Community, and Karyes is where the main administrator, chosen by the Greek government, works. Even though Greece is part of the European Union, the rules on Mount Athos are different. For example, only men can enter the area.

The monasteries are managed by leaders called archimandrites, chosen by the monks to lead for life. Each monastery has its own rules, and smaller groups like sketes and hermitages are connected to one of the 20 main monasteries.

Map of the community

Monks on Athos become Greek citizens when they join. Visitors need special permission to enter. Most monks are Greek, but some monasteries have monks from other countries, such as Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia, each using their own languages alongside Greek.

History

The monastic community on Mount Athos has a long and rich history. Monks lived there as far back as the 8th century. Over time, many important leaders helped the monasteries grow.

A Byzantine watch tower, protecting the dock (αρσανάς, arsanás) of Xeropotamou monastery

During the Byzantine era, emperors protected the monasteries and gave them special rights. Important documents from this time show how the community was organized. Later, leaders from Serbia also helped build and expand several monasteries.

When the Ottoman Empire took control, the monks adapted to new challenges. Even with these changes, the monasteries kept growing and stayed important for learning and faith.

Today, Mount Athos remains a special place for monks, with its own unique traditions and rules.

Monastic life

The monasteries on Mount Athos have grown since 1971. In 2000, there were 1,610 monks, and by 2009, nearly 2,000. Many of these monks are young and help care for old books, clothing, paintings, and other important items. This work takes many years and is supported by groups like UNESCO and the EU, along with universities.

Visitors can join monks in daily activities such as praying, sharing meals, working, and resting. During special religious events, there are longer periods of prayer. The monastery gates close at sunset and open again at sunrise.

Many monasteries are dedicated to the Virgin Mary. For example, Vatopedi and Philotheou honor the Annunciation, Agiou Pavlou the Purification, Hilandar the Presentation, and Iviron the Dormition.^: 26–27

A view of Nea Skiti

A cell is a small house with its own little church, where 1–3 monks live under the guidance of a larger monastery. Each cell usually has some land for farming or other work to help support itself.

List of religious institutions

Twenty monasteries

The monasteries on Mount Athos are special places where monks live and work. They follow a unique way of life and are very important to the community.

Former monasteries

In the past, there were more monasteries that are no longer active. These older monasteries were mostly near Karyes.

Other former monasteries include Amalfinon Monastery, which was a Latin monastery, and the Monastery of Zelianos, a monastery from Bulgaria near Xenophontos Monastery and Old Rosiko.

Sketes

A skete is a simple place where monks live quietly. They have a church where they gather but also live in small houses nearby. There are two types of sketes on Mount Athos. One type is like a small monastery, and the other is more like a small village with a church and a few houses around it. The twelve main sketes on Mount Athos are:

Other small communities sometimes called sketes include Nea Tivaida, Little St. Anne's Skete, and the Skete of St. Basil. However, these are not officially called sketes by the leaders of Mount Athos. Former sketes include Rosiko and Chourmitsa, both of which were Russian sketes.

Settlements

The main places where people live on Mount Athos are:

Karyes (main administrative center)
Dafni (main port)

Other smaller places include:

Great Lavra Monastery	Vatopedi Monastery	Iviron Monastery	Helandariou Monastery	Dionysiou Monastery
Μεγίστη Λαύρα	Βατοπέδι	Ιβήρων	Χιλανδαρίου Хиландар (Serbian)	Διονυσίου

Koutloumousiou Monastery	Pantokratoros Monastery	Xeropotamou Monastery	Zografou Monastery	Docheiariou Monastery
Κουτλουμούσι	Παντοκράτορος	Ξηροποτάμου	Ζωγράφου Зограф (Bulgarian)	Δοχειαρίου

Karakalou Monastery	Filotheou Monastery	Simonos Petras Monastery	Agiou Pavlou Monastery	Stavronikita Monastery
Καρακάλλου	Φιλοθέου	Σίμωνος Πέτρα	Αγίου Παύλου	Σταυρονικήτα

Xenophontos Monastery	Osiou Grigoriou Monastery	Esphigmenou Monastery	Agiou Panteleimonos Monastery	Konstamonitou Monastery
Ξενοφώντος	Οσίου Γρηγορίου	Εσφιγμένου	Αγίου Παντελεήμονος Пантелеймонов (Russian)	Κωνσταμονίτου

English name	Greek name
Monastery of Voroskopou	μονή τοῦ ἁγίου Συμεών τοῦ Βοροσκόπου
Monastery of Agios Panteleimonos of Thessaloniki	μονή τοῦ ἁγίου Παντελεήμονος τοῦ Θεσσαλονικέως
Monastery of Kaletzi	μονή τοῦ Καλέντζη
Monastery of Kalyka	μονή τοῦ Σωτῆρος Χριστοῦ τοῦ Κάλυκα
Monastery of Katzari	μονή τοῦ Σωτῆρος Χριστοῦ τοῦ Κατζάρη
Monastery of Xylourgou	μονή τῆς Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου τοῦ Ξυλουργού
Monastery of Agios Prokopios	μονή τοῦ ἁγίου Προκοπίου
Monastery of Saravari	μονή τοῦ Σωτῆρος Χριστοῦ τοῦ Σαράβαρη
Monastery of Trochala	μονή τοῦ Τρόχαλα
Monastery of Agios Hypatios	μονή τοῦ ἁγίου Ὑπατίου
Monastery of Falakrou	μονή τοῦ Ἀσωμάτου τοῦ Φαλακροῦ
Monastery of Agios Philippos	μονή τοῦ ἁγίου Φιλίππου

Skete	Type	Monastery	Alternative names / notes
Agias Annas Αγίας Άννας	Idiorrhythmic	Megistis Lavras	(= Saint Anne) Agiánna
Agias Triados or Kafsokalyvíon Αγίας Τριάδος ή Καυσοκαλυβίων	Idiorrhythmic	Megistis Lavras	(= Holy Trinity) Kafsokalývia (= "burned huts")
Timiou Prodromou Τιμίου Προδρόμου	Coenobitic	Megistis Lavras	(= Holy Fore-runner, i.e. St John the Baptist) Prodromu, Sfântul Ioan Botezătorul – Romanian
Agiou Andrea Αγίου Ανδρέα	Coenobitic	Vatopediou	(= Saint Andrew) Also known as Saray (Σαράι)
Skiti Agiou Dimitriou of Vatopedi Αγίου Δημητρίου	Idiorrhythmic	Vatopediou	(= Saint Demetrius) Vatopediní
Skiti Timiou Prodromou of Iviron Τιμίου Προδρόμου Ιβήρων	Idiorrhythmic	Iviron	(= Holy Forerunner, i.e. St John the Baptist) Ivirítiki
Agiou Panteleimonos Αγίου Παντελεήμονος	Idiorrhythmic	Koutloumousiou	(= Saint Panteleimon/Pantaleon) Koutloumousianí
Profiti Ilia Προφήτη Ηλία	Coenobitic	Pantokratoros	(= Prophet Elijah)
Theotokou or Nea Skiti Θεοτόκου ή Νέα Σκήτη	Idiorrhythmic	Agiou Pavlou	(= Of God-Bearer or New Skete)
Agiou Dimitriou tou Lakkou or Lakkoskiti Αγίου Δημητρίου του Λάκκου ή Λακκοσκήτη	Idiorrhythmic	Agiou Pavlou	(= Saint Demetrius of the Ravine or Ravine-Skete) Lacu, Sfântul Dumitru – Romanian
Evangelismou tis Theotokou Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου	Idiorrhythmic	Xenophontos	(= Annunciation of Theotokos) Xenofontiní
Bogoroditsa Βογορόδιτσα	Coenobitic	Agiou Panteleimonos

Law

Only a small number of visitors are allowed on Mount Athos each day. Men who are Eastern Orthodox Christians can visit, but they need a special permit called a diamonitirion. This permit can be picked up in Thessaloniki and must be shown at Ouranopoli or Ierissos before taking a ferry to Mount Athos. Only men can visit Mount Athos, which monks call the “Garden of Virgin Mary”.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, visits to Mount Athos were stopped for a time.

The monastic community does not allow women or female animals to enter Mount Athos. This rule helps the monks live in celibacy and honors the Virgin Mary. This ban was officially declared by emperors, including Constantine Monomachos, in 1046.

As part of Greece in the European Union, Mount Athos follows most EU laws. The monks were worried that joining the Schengen Area might change their rules, but the prohibition remains.