Greece is a country that has preserved the cultural wealth of the ancient world. Every corner in these parts is connected with events of world history. A special aura of mystery surrounds the holy Mount Athos - a monastic abode for thousands of true Christian believers and a place of pilgrimage for millions of followers of the religion. The prayed-for, miraculous and incredibly beautiful land attracts tourists from all over the world.
History of Athos
The Thracians were the first to settle on the island of Athos in Greece. This happened 1000 years before the birth of Christ. Favorable natural conditions allowed them to lead a solitary lifestyle.
According to Thracian legend, the island received its name in honor of the mythical giant Athos. In a fight with Poseidon, the titan grabbed a rock and threw it at the enemy. However, Athos missed and the rock stuck into the ground. This is how the future “Holy Greek Mountain” appeared.
Five centuries later, the first Greeks settled on the peninsula, bringing with them the beginnings of Greek culture. In the 7th century AD (691-692), this land turned into an exclusively monastic monastery, and in 1144 it was officially given the title “Holy Mount Athos.”
These events were preceded by the appearance of a legend telling about the journey of the Virgin Mary and the Apostle John the Theologian, which took place in 49. Their ship washed up on the Greek island of Athos as a result of a powerful storm. Coming ashore, the Mother of God was so amazed by the beauty and atmosphere of the place that God gave this land under her protection. Since then, instead of the official name, the phrases “The Lot of the Virgin Mary” or “The Garden of the Virgin Mary” are often heard from the lips of monks and pilgrims.
About temptations and blessings, joy and sorrow
In general, on Athos one often hears just such a conversation and consideration of various issues through these two concepts - temptation and blessing. Here I learned a lot from communication with Archimandrite David, from the cell of the Honorable Cross.
Father David
One personal example: on the advice of experienced people, when leaving the cell of the hospitable Father David, I asked him to call the minibus driver to reserve a seat, which he did in front of me. So what: I arrive early, while it’s still dark, and I watch an amazing sunrise. I find a fig tree by the road with several fruits on it, and I eat them with pleasure. I photograph the rising sun over the sea and wait for the bus. Exactly at 7:15 he arrives and unexpectedly drives by, the driver just threw up his hands, saying, there are no seats, signomi! - I'm sorry. I felt sudden anger - after all, I had done everything in advance! I planned it and booked the place. And the backpack is heavy, it will be difficult to walk far with it, 4-5 hours. I think I’ll call Father David, wake him up and ask him to take me by car. Let him work hard, since this happened. And I was about to pick up the phone, but I stopped myself. Why wake a person up and bother him? I'll go on foot, maybe someone will pick it up. He humbled himself, calmed down, and began the Mother of God rule. I walked about five hundred meters - and suddenly another bus arrived, half empty, and it was the one that took me to Karya.
Dawn on Athos
On the other hand, any event can be perceived as a temptation or a blessing. Talking with Father David, I asked him how he, being a monk, manages to do so many things: to build and clean all the premises (which is 800 square meters), and to receive pilgrims, and to cook, and to manage the household (he has a vegetable garden, chickens). And at the same time - pray. He replied that he always prays, no matter what he does. And he added that they always replace each other: if you overcome temptation, wait for blessing. And it is important to understand this. And that much depends on our inner attitude: often where temptation is seen (for example, in the household, distracting from prayer), I see blessing. I was also surprised that Father David does everything with joy, and I was tempted to ask: what about sadness and grief about the troubles of the world? When asked about this, he answered this way: yes, I am sad about my sins and the sins of the whole world, but the joy from God’s presence in me is greater, and it always overcomes sadness.
Geographical and political position of the island
Looking at the map, you will notice that the geographical contours of Athos also look special. It is an integral part of the Halkidiki peninsula, very similar in its outline to a hand with three fingers. The eastern “finger”, washed by the Aegean Sea and the Singitikos Gulf, is the Athos peninsula.
It is noteworthy that the Orthodox Mount Athos in Greece served as a reason for obtaining absolute sovereignty. Legally, this territory is independent from the Greek authorities and is in a self-governing position. Thus, Athos is a full-fledged monastic state, subordinate exclusively to church authorities, and specifically to the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Climate and nature in the vicinity of Mount Athos
Like the entire Mediterranean, Athos has a comfortable subtropical climate. There are very long summers and not frosty winters. For pilgrims, the best season will be autumn: the summer heat will subside, and the cool, rainy season of winter will not yet begin.
The island is surrounded by dense forests. Many rare species of vegetation have been preserved here, untouched by the influence of animals. The monks provide for their own needs, so extensive orchards, olive plantations and vineyards will delight the eye. And drinking water is obtained from the purest high-mountain springs.
Monasteries of Athos
The entire territory of the peninsula is divided into areas belonging to monasteries. There are 20 monasteries on Mount Athos, and according to the adopted charter, the formation of new settlements is strictly prohibited.
The monastic republic is self-governing, and every year supreme representatives from 4 monasteries are elected (Holy Epistasy). Thus, 5 monastic groups were formed:
- Great Lavra, Esphigmen, Xenophon, Dochiar.
- Karakall, Vatopedi, Kutlumush, Stavronikita.
- Iversky, Simonopetra, Philotheus, Pantocrator.
- St. Paul, Hilandar, Grigoriat, Xiropotamus.
- Konstamonite, St. Panteleimon, Dionysiatus, Zograf.
The status of a monastery not only ensures participation in power, but also gives the right to own territory.
Among the Greek monasteries on Mount Athos, the oldest is the Great Lavra, founded by St. Athanasius in 963. On its territory there is a monastery with ancient frescoes and many Christian relics. Among them are the miraculous icons “Ekonomissa” and “Kukuzelissa”, the cross and staff of St. Athanasius, the relics of saints and parts of the tree of the Holy Cross.
Lavra of St. Athanasius (Great Lavra)
Caracal
Monastery of St. Paul.
Monastery of St. Panteleimon
In addition to the monasteries, there are 12 monasteries on Mount Athos. These monastic settlements do not have any rights and depend on the monastery to which the territory belongs. In total, 1,500 monks live on the island.
Saints of Athos
The Holy Mountain of Greece has its own heroes. The list of revered saints who worthily passed through the hardships of earthly life contains many names. The monks carried their faith with ecstasy and were ready to accept any torment. A striking example of such an act is the story of St. Agapius.
He was a novice of the elder from the cell of the Holy Trinity. One day Agapius went down to the sea, but at that moment pirates landed on the shore. They captured the monk and took him to Magnisia, where they sold him into slavery to a Muslim. For 12 years Agapius lived in hard work and constant prayers for salvation.
The Mother of God heard his requests and appeared. She unfastened the chains, opened the doors and ordered the monk to flee to Athos. Agapius fulfilled the command and returned to the elder. However, he did not accept it. “You deceived your master, but you cannot deceive God. At the hour of judgment, you will have to answer for the pieces of silver that he spent on your purchase. Return to your master and serve him, and when the Lord bless him, he will let you go. This is how you will find your salvation,” these were the words of the wise old man.
Agapius obeyed the order. The Muslim was surprised at the return of the fugitive. The monk’s virtue and fierce faith impressed the owner, so much so that he took his sons and went with them and the former slave to the island of Athos. They accepted the Orthodox faith and lived in humility and virtue until the end of their days.
Venerable Agapius
Holy Mount Athos and Russian pilgrims
The first records of Russian travel to Athos date back to the time of the Baptism of Rus, when the island was visited by St. Anthony of Pechersk. He lived here for a long time, and then went to Kyiv for missionary purposes, where he founded the first center of monasticism - the Pechersky Monastery.
Back in 1016, a Russian monastery was founded on the Athos lands, but exact data about it has not been preserved. In the 12th century, Russian monasticism received the Russik monastery on Athos, which developed throughout the Middle Ages. Although at times it was quite difficult for the monks, and the monastery fell into complete decay.
Today, the center of Russian Orthodoxy on Mount Athos is the monastery of St. Panteleimon. Sometimes it is called: “Rossikon” or “New Russik”. Also inhabited by Russians are the monastery of the Prophet Elijah and the monastery of St. Andrew.
Women on Mount Athos
Women and children under 12 years of age are strictly prohibited from visiting the Athos monastery. The taboo was violated as a last resort: when the lives of women and children were in danger, they could take refuge in the church. Today, women face up to a year in prison for entering Mount Athos.
Ladies can admire views of the island from a distance of 500 meters. Special sea cruises are organized for this purpose. From a comfortable boat slowly cruising along the coast, you can admire picturesque landscapes, ancient monasteries and the Sacred Mountain.
Pilgrimage
To visit the Holy Mountain, a Greek visa or a biometric passport (for Ukrainian citizens) is not enough. One more document is required - diamonitirion . These are permits to visit Mount Athos. The number of visitors is no more than 110 people per day.
It can be obtained in Thessaloniki at the pilgrimage center located at 109, st. Egnatia, Thessaloniki. You must first submit your request by email. Confirmation will come from the center when and which monastery is ready to receive you.
Important! The request must be sent in advance, approximately 6 months before the trip.
Permission is obtained in hand at the pilgrimage center in Ouranoupolis on the day of departure to Athos. This is convenient, since you can only get to the Holy Mountain from this city. Upon receipt of the permit, 25 euros .
The main thing to remember is that pilgrimage trips are not tourism. Everything is quite ascetic. Accommodation in monasteries is not luxurious. Eating with the monks in the refectory.
If you feel that you are not ready for such a trip, but want to see the Holy Mountain, then you can buy a boat excursion along the coast of Athos . Excursion boats depart from Ouranoupolis, the trip lasts 3-4 hours. The boat sails along the coast, tourists will see 8 monasteries, the guide will tell about the history of Athos. According to reviews from tourists, the excursion is interesting and educational.
Visa to Mount Athos
Men can enter the Orthodox mountain in Greece after receiving a special permit called Diamonitirion.
You must apply for entry one month before your visit. To do this, you must inform the Pilgrimage Bureau of your arrival date and send a copy of the first page of your passport. The request is submitted free of charge, but the issued permit will need to be paid directly upon receipt in the city of Ouranoupolis (cost 25 euros).
The visa gives the right to stay on the peninsula for 4 days and spend the night in any of the monasteries. If desired, in Karei you can extend the validity of the permit. Accommodation in the monastery is free, but it is better to thank the monks for their hospitality by purchasing their souvenirs.
The application procedure can be simplified, because Many travel agencies offer diamonitirion registration. True, such a service costs more than 100 euros.
A little about the great Abag Anakopia
New Athos is located 80 km from the Russian border towards Sukhum. The first mention of a settlement on the site of the modern city dates back to the third century. The population is only 1,500 people, mainly Abkhazians, Russians, Armenians, and Greeks live in the city. The climate is subtropical, winter temperatures rarely drop to minus, so there is a good harvest of persimmons, tangerines and oranges.
In winter, tangerines sell for 20 rubles. per kg. Thanks to the antiquity of the city, the area has many attractions from different eras. Initially, the city was built up by the Greeks; ancient amphorae, jewelry, dishes were found on the territory, and the Greek style is felt in the architecture.
Later, under Byzantine influence, local pagans Abazgians (now Abkhazians) converted to Christianity. The teachings of Christ were brought to the Black Sea coast by Simon the Canaanite and Andrew the First-Called (about this in the article about the grotto of Simon the Canaanite). For many years, Muslim Arabs tried to break the Abazgians' faith in Christ, and then under Leon II, the Abazgian kingdom proclaimed its majesty. To protect the kingdom, the Anakopia fortress was built on Iveron Mountain, so the Abazgs were able to repel Muslim raids.
By the way, Abazg artists were famous for their skill; it was they who participated in decorating the Assumption Cathedral in Kyiv with paintings. And Abazg girls were considered the most lovely! The Kiev prince took the beauty from “Obeza” as his wife, and the Byzantine emperor married the Abazing princess.
And the modern city of New Athos is the property of the New Athos monks, who came from the Simonokananite church. They were engaged in trout fishing (for this they dug 7 ponds, which tourists love so much), built a huge dam (an artificial waterfall is one of the city’s attractions), as well as the Psyrtskha hydroelectric power station, which is still in operation today. But the main asset of the monks is the magnificent New Athos Monastery, towering above the city.
How to get there?
The sacred Mount Athos in Greece is located on a part of the peninsula closed to the laity, so the path to it is not easy.
First you need to arrive on the Halkidiki peninsula. You can fly into Thessaloniki airport or travel here from another city in Greece by bus, train or taxi. True, such a trip will not be complete without numerous transfers.
You can get from Halkidiki to Athos only through the seaport of Daphne. The path to this bay lies through the town of Ouranoupolis. Regular buses run from the bus station in Thessaloniki to Ouranoupolis. The price of a one-way ticket is 12.5 euros. The trip will take from 2.5 to 3 hours. By deciding to order a taxi, you will reduce the time spent by 2 times, but will pay 120-140 euros for the trip.
Transport
The most reliable, although not the fastest, way to travel around the Holy Mountain is as old as the universe itself - on foot. The path passes along picturesque mountain paths, among thickets of olives, lemon and almond trees, groves give way to vineyards, and meadows in the hollows between the hills give way to coniferous thickets. In order not to get lost, you must use a map, which can be purchased in Ouranoupolis, in Daphne or in the monasteries themselves. The minimum distance between monasteries is 2.5 km, the average is from 10 to 15 km. It is recommended to go in groups of several people; this is easy to arrange, since pilgrims often move between monasteries. It should be taken into account that after 18:00 the monasteries close the gates, and there is a risk of staying overnight on the street.
For more comfortable travel on Mount Athos, there are minibuses. True, it is important to note that they are few in number and set off when all the seats are occupied (there are from 5 to 8), or the existing passengers do not want to wait and will pay for the missing ones. It is clear that it is almost impossible to predict the appearance of the desired minibus. Another option is to “buy out” a car going to the desired location, but this can be expensive: from 40 to 80 EUR.
Ferries also run between the monastery piers. The ferry arrival schedule can be found in each monastery. Ferries travel around the peninsula, stopping at each pier in forward and reverse order.
Detailed map of the Athos Peninsula
The first idea of what Athos looks like is given by a map of Greece and the Chalkidiki peninsula. Let's now look at a detailed diagram that shows all the roads and monasteries on the territory of Athos.
First of all, we arrive at the port of Daphne - the sea gate of Athos on the map of Greece. In the diagram they are indicated by a red dot. Notice another large red circle. This is Kareya - the administrative center of the monastic state. There are shops, a post office, cafes and other benefits of the new civilization. This is the only place that can be spoken of as a city where the holy Mount Athos is located. Everything else you will see are monasteries, monasteries and cells, where you can take a break from a long walk.
If you want to climb to the top of the mountain, then pay attention to the southern edge of the island. The place where the holy mountain is located is marked with a red triangle, and next to it we see an indicator of the height of Athos and the designation of the cell of Panagia.
Actually, the entire peninsula is a neighborhood of large monasteries and small hermitages. You can get to some of them directly from the ferry that docks at their piers. Others can only be reached on foot. But what is Mount Athos of Greece? This is a constant search for a way.
Transport in New Athos, how to get around the city
There is no public transport in New Athos, but you can move between districts (center, residential area on the outskirts) by minibuses running along the main highway E60 from Sukhum to New Athos and beyond. But they don’t run very often or consistently, so sometimes it’s faster to walk two kilometers from the outskirts than to wait for transport. In addition, you can make this path along the beach. Also, in the center and near the railway station there are always many private cab drivers “on duty”, always ready to take you for 50-100 rubles.
To travel from New Athos on a budget during the day to Sukhum or Gagry, you can also take any passing minibus on the main road E60 in the desired direction.
Mystical places on the Holy Mountain
Like any territory, the Orthodox Mount Athos in Greece has its secrets and mysteries.
Thus, in the highlands there is the Idolio rock. At the dawn of the settlement of the island, there was a large pagan temple here. Passage to this peak is strictly prohibited, although a well-trodden path leads to it. Numerous crosses are installed along it, protecting the Orthodox land from the penetration of evil spirits.
Locals also try to avoid the Mogul monastery, which was once located just above the Great Lavra. Today there is a rocky slab, sloping into the sea.
According to legend, previously there was a skete under it, consecrated in honor of Basil the Great. Strong discord began among his monks, and suddenly they heard a strong roar of rockfall. At that moment, a huge rock, towering 500 meters above their monastery, crashed down with a roar and swept away all traces of the monastery mired in strife. All that remained was a deserted slab, where the roar of rockfalls can still be heard.
Interesting Facts
1. On the Holy Mountain there is a legend about the Mogul monastery, located on a steep slope. Instead, there now lies a huge stone slab, with one side going into the sea.
One day there was a disagreement between the monks of the monastery. After some time, a terrible roar was heard. This piece of rock fell right on the monastery and carried it into the sea.
2. During the Second World War, not a single monastery of Athos was damaged. The fact is that the Holy Kinot sent a letter to Hitler asking him to save the holy monasteries from destruction. And he fulfilled their request - why not mysticism?
Beaches and resorts in Athos
If you are planning a beach holiday, it will only be available in Ouranoupolis or Nea Roda. In the Orthodox part of the island it is strictly prohibited:
- wear bright clothes;
- bare legs and shoulders;
- swim and have a sunbath;
- to swear;
- conduct video shooting.
In addition, the daily routine established by the monks should be followed.
At the resorts you will find both comfortable beaches and attractive wild areas, to which a taxi will take you.
Hotels
On the territory of the sacred mountain, besides monasteries, you will not find any other housing. But in the resort part, in Ouranoupolis or Nea Dora, you can easily find an inexpensive and comfortable hotel on Mount Athos. The list of the best usually includes:
- Eagles Palace;
- Xenia Ouranopolis;
- Alexandros Palace Hotel;
- Hotel AKTI Ouranopoli Beach Resort.
A trip to Athos will delight you not only with the amazing beauty of nature, but also with the peaceful atmosphere of the Orthodox land, which leaves its own unique and indescribable impressions in everyone’s soul.
Invisible elders
There is a legend on Mount Athos about invisible elders. And they are invisible because they live at the very top, secretly, and almost never come across the path of other people, because God does not want to reveal them to the world. They say that they know a special prayer, so no one sees them, although they are nearby.
However, there were cases when they nevertheless met travelers who had gotten lost on the mountain paths. Then they showed them the right path and...disappeared. Paisiy Svyatorets, the blessed elder and prophet of the 20th century, also saw them. The one to whom God gave to see one of the elders says that his face was clear, enlightened, full of inner blessed radiance. But the clothes looked like rags, barely covering the body. The old man was well oriented in the confusing paths of the mountain and was able to quickly answer what day of the week, date and year, guided by the cuts on sticks that he took out of a small leather bag.
There are 7 of those elders in total, and they appear (?) to the monks on Easter. But this is a secret...
