Holy Mount Athos (WPFDC / flickr.com)
Peak of Mount Athos (Horia Varlan / flickr.com)
WPFDC/flickr.com
michael clarke stuff / flickr.com
View of Mount Athos (Dave Proffer / flickr.com)
michael clarke stuff / flickr.com
WPFDC/flickr.com
Monasteries of Athos (WPFDC / flickr.com)
WPFDC/flickr.com
michael clarke stuff / flickr.com
michael clarke stuff / flickr.com
michael clarke stuff / flickr.com
View of the peninsula from the top of Mount Athos (Dbachmann / wikimedia.org)
Iviron Monastery, Athos (Leon Hart / flickr.com)
Gabriel / flickr.com
WPFDC/flickr.com
WPFDC/flickr.com
WPFDC/flickr.com
WPFDC/flickr.com
Landscape of Athos (WPFDC / flickr.com)
WPFDC/flickr.com
Mount Athos (Schtewe / flickr.com)
Bell with Mount Athos in the background (WPFDC / flickr.com)
WPFDC/flickr.com
WPFDC/flickr.com
WPFDC/flickr.com
WPFDC/flickr.com
Model of Mount Athos (WPFDC / flickr.com)
Map of the monasteries of Athos (Donor / wikimedia.org)
Mount Athos on the map (commons.wikimedia.org)
Greece is replete with interesting places: Athens, Rhodes and Olympia. But for Orthodox believers and pilgrims who may not be interested in the pagan temples of the ancient gods, there is one very significant place in Greece - Mount Athos.
Athos is a holy mountain located in Greece, its height is 2033 meters. She is famous all over the world. Mount Athos (Agion Oros) is translated as “Sacred Mountain”. Although its oldest names are Akti (Cliff) and Athos after the name of the giant from Greek myths.
Abandoned cell on Mount Athos
The Holy Mountain is now experiencing a time of relative prosperity - most of the monasteries of Athos are not constrained by funds, and in many places restoration of buildings or even construction of new ones is underway.
Nevertheless, vibrant Athos life goes on as usual, and individual monasteries (small isolated settlements of monks) are abandoned every now and then. For example, this one.
Once upon a time, several monks labored here, but then someone died, someone moved to another place, and the house was abandoned.
Perhaps the monks will return to it. But they have a lot of work to do to restore their home!
PS Of course, this is not the most abandoned cell. There are also those that were abandoned a long time ago and turned out to be almost completely destroyed.
For example, like this:
Monasteries of Athos
Now there are 20 monasteries on Mount Athos, a peninsula in Greece. Without exception, all monasteries of Mount Athos are for general residence. One and a half thousand monks live on the mountain, and the saints of Athos lived here. All of them are male and profess Orthodoxy.
- The Great Lavra
is the oldest and main monastery. It was founded in 963. This is the largest monastery and the first in the hierarchy. It was founded by Saint Athanasius. He also introduced its inhabitants to hermitism and the cave lifestyle. On the territory of the Lavra there are 17 temples belonging to it, and 19 outside the territory. The monastery has many shrines and relics. - Vatopedi
- the monastery stands on a hill that rises above the seashore. It was founded from 972 to 985 by Nicholas, Anthony and Athanasius. These were rich people who came here to become monks during the time of the founder of the Lavra. It is in second place after the Lavra. He keeps within himself a belt that belonged to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In addition, there are many robes, vessels, as well as numerous icons of the Mother of God that work miracles. They decorate the decoration of the monastery; their names are: Vsetsaritsa, Eliototochaya, Ktitorskaya and Slaughtered. - Iversky
- the name comes from the word Iveron in Greek. This is the name of the country of Georgia in ancient times or Iberia and the Georgians built the monastery. It was founded by the Venerables John Torniky and John the Holy Mountain in 980-983. It is located in the northeast of the peninsula, on the coast next to a small bay, where the city of Kleona and the temple of Poseidon used to be located. It is believed that it was here that the storm brought the ship on which the Mother of God and the Apostle John the Theologian were. Here the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God is now located in a separate church; it is especially revered in Russia. The monastery stores many holy relics. - Hilandar
is located in the northeast of the Athos peninsula. Supported by the Serbian Orthodox Church. Archbishop of Serbia Saint Sava together with Prince Stefan Nemanja founded this monastery in 1198. Now 70 Serbian monks live here. Among the treasures here are icons of the Mother of God, particles of relics of the Passion of Christ and the Life-Giving Cross, as well as the relics of some saints. - Dionysiatus
- it was founded in 1375, and to this day, it stands on an 80-meter cliff, towering above the seashore. It is located between the monasteries of St. Paul and Gregoriate.
There are many other monasteries on the mountain, including the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon.
In addition to monasteries, there are also monasteries. Two Russians: Prophet Elijah and Saint Andrew. Romanian monastery, which belongs to the Lavra of St. John the Baptist. And those that belong to the Iveron Monastery: the Most Holy Theotokos, Righteous Anna, Kafsokalyvia, 2nd Skete of John the Baptist, New Skete, Annunciation, St. Demetrius.
Athos. Photo of a monk on the pier
The Athos peninsula is washed by the sea on all sides. In fact, the only way to get here or leave from here is by ferry or boat. (There is also a land border, but it is located far from most monasteries, and therefore no one uses it. Moreover, it is usually closed to ordinary pilgrims.
Beautiful clouds, in the distance the earth, slightly covered with airy haze. And a monk who is waiting for the ferry. Perhaps he is a pilgrim returning home, completely immersed in his impressions and thoughts. Or perhaps he is a resident of one of the Athonite monasteries, who was sent “into the world” on some errand.
How to get there?
From Athens in Greece you can get to Thessaloniki by bus and train, but with numerous transfers. You can get to Athos from the capital Athens, but the main flow of pilgrims and tourists comes to Athos through Thessaloniki, where the airport is located.
It is best to arrive at the station in the morning, as early as possible, otherwise you will not be able to catch the ferry, which leaves at 9.45.
From Thessaloniki you can get to Ouranoupolis by regular bus, or you can order a taxi. In Ouranoupolis, you need to get diamonitirion at the Pilgrimage Bureau. Then from Ouranoupolis to the port of Daphne, 2 hours by ferry.
There is no charge for accommodation and food in the monasteries. You need to give 2 weeks notice before arrival, overnight accommodation is provided for one day, to stay longer you need to ask for blessings.
Athos. The monk walks along the path.
The nature of Athos is beautiful - just like any land untouched by modern “technocracy” is beautiful. In some places it is especially beautiful.
This photo was taken on the approach to the Simonopetra monastery. A couple of hundred meters above sea level. Brightly scorching sun. And a stone path along which a monk walks, surrounded by greenery.
It all looks like a peaceful walk, but in reality all the treks on Mount Athos are very difficult. All roads or paths have a large difference in elevation. Some trails have long stretches of 40 degrees or more!
Here, as an example, is an almost vertical path next to the sea, also just on the way to the Simonopetra monastery:
Photo of Holy Mount Athos
No photo will convey this picture if you see it “live”. Athos Peninsula. In the distance is one of the monasteries (it looks small in the photo, but this is Pantokrator - and it is not small at all). And even further rises it itself - the majestic 2-kilometer Mount Athos.
In this photo it rests on the clouds, but sometimes the clouds, when they are low, hide part of the top.
According to the Athonite tradition (or legend), somewhere on Mount Athos live 12 invisible hermits who lead an equal-angelic lifestyle. One of them, when the time comes, will celebrate the last Liturgy on Earth...
Saints of Athos
In the last century, a process of revival of monasteries on Mount Athos took place. The charismatic elders and saints of Athos introduced many to monastic and hermit life.
Bell with Mount Athos in the background (WPFDC / flickr.com)
Famous of them: the hermit Joseph the Hesychast, Elder Paisius the Svyatogorets, Archimandrite Sophrony, Arseny the Caveman, Ephraim of Katunak and others.
A lot can be written about the saints of Athos, as well as about the martyrs. For example, we can talk about the life of one of the saints of Athos - Joachim of Ithaca.
The Monk Joachim of Ithaca is considered the guardian of Ithaca; this island was his homeland.
He came to Mount Athos at the age of 17, where he visited the Vatopedi Monastery. He asked to be allowed to stay in the monastery. Subsequently he became a monk. He made numerous efforts to save people during the revolution in Greece.
For several years he lived in the forest, devoting himself to prayer. When he became a saint, he prevented crimes, predicted future dangers, and healed the sick. He set an example for residents, helping them change their lifestyle.
Corridors of the Zograf Monastery
By Athos standards, Zograf is a rather large monastery. And relatively poor. Many of its buildings, if not restored, have at least preserved the spirit of past centuries - this is how you can call the feeling you experience while walking along the corridors of this monastery.
At night everything is plunged into darkness. There is a service in the church, the corridors are empty. And only the Icon of the Mother of God - the Patroness of the entire Mount Athos - is illuminated on the far wall.
Why are women not allowed to visit monasteries and the mountain?
The legend says that when the Mother of God set foot on the shore, she left a covenant that no woman would set foot on these blessed shores, near which the holy mountain stands. Although some women for some reason wanted to get to Holy Athos, despite the fact that this was impossible.
Monasteries of Athos (WPFDC / flickr.com)
For example, the daughter of the Emperor of Byzantium, Theodosius Placidia, coming from Rome, gathered along the way to see the monasteries. But the voice of the Mother of God in the temple ordered her to leave the lands of Athos.
Princess Maro brought a rich donation to the monasteries, but on the way she met an angel who told her to turn around.
In the 11th century, not only women were forbidden to stay on Mount Athos, but also female animals.
Since 1953, violation of this rule has even been punishable by imprisonment for a period of two months to a year.
Why are such strict rules introduced? There has long been a movement in Europe whose goal is to defend the idea of equal rights for women. And representatives of the fairer sex, justifying their actions as discrimination, are trying to get to Athos.
Despite the ban (avaton), women still visited here, the monks allowed refugees to stay in the monasteries.
Photo of Athos. Iveron Monastery.
This photo was taken in one of the most famous Athonite monasteries - the monastery of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. The photo was taken from the window of one of the monastery buildings - the central cathedral is visible in the window.
The Iveron Monastery, like all the monasteries of Athos, accepts pilgrims only for one day. If you want to stay longer, you will have to fulfill obediences. That is why the pilgrimage to Athos has a kind of wandering: you spend one night in one monastery, during the day you move to another. And so on.
See also: how to organize a pilgrimage to Athos on your own
Photo of the Skete of St. Anne
The monastery of St. Anne is a legendary place. On this slope are collected the cells of hermit monks with the strictest regulations (stricter only on the rocks in Karuli - but this is a completely separate topic for discussion).
The photo was taken during sunset. One of the temples is visible in the distance. And of course, the sea. Big, beautiful, wayward. But this evening is calm.
PS Photos of Karulei
We talked about special hermits on Karuli. Here are their cells: Karuli is the place of the strictest asceticism on the Holy Mountain.
On an almost vertical rocky slope, it is not clear how dozens of small cells were built in which monks live (or rather, pray incessantly).
There is no road leading to Karuli. And the ascetics themselves, if they need to go somewhere, move along ropeways.
Pilgrimage to Athos: tips, the most important things
