Monesteries Mount Athos

THE HOLY MONASTERIES OF MOUNT ATHOS

The abbeys do not charge for their hospitality, however they do accept donations that one might make.

The visitors of Mount Athos should be modestly dressed and behave decently. In a case where they do not follow the rules of dress code and behavior, their diamonitirio ceases and they will be persecuted by the whole region of Mount Athos.

Strict sentences are imposed also to those who will try to remove holy heirlooms from Mount Athos. While photographing is allowed, filming with cameras is prohibited strictly.

In a hierarchical order the monasteries of Mount Athos are:

• The Holy Monastery of the Great Lavra
• The Great and Holy Monastery of Vatopaedi
• The Holy Monastery of Iviron
• The Holy Monastery of Chilandari (or Chelandari)
• The Holy Monastery of Dionysiou
• The Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou
• The Holy Monastery of Pantokratoros
• The Holy Monastery of Xiropotamou
• The Holy Monastery of Zographou
• The Holy Monastery of Docheiariou
• Τhe Holy Monastery of Karakalou
• The Holy Monastery of Filotheou
• The Holy Monastery of Simonos Petras
• The Holy Monastery of Agiou Pavlou
• The Holy Monastery of Stavronikita
• The Holy Monastery of Xenophontos
• The Holy Monastery of Grigoriou
• The Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou
• The Holy Monastery of Saint Panteleimonos
• The Holy Monastery of Konstamonitou

TRAVEL THROUGH THE HOLY MOUNTAIN

The movements can be made:

. On bus route Daphne - Karia - Abbey Iberians.

1. Με τα μικρά φορτηγά αυτοκίνητα , που διαθέτουν αρκετά μοναστήρια
2.     With vans, with several monasteries.
3. Με τα "ΤΑΞΙ Μινιμπας " που μπορείτε να νοικιάσετε στις Καρυές ή να ζητήσετε να σας παραλάβουν απο το μοναστήρι ή την σκήτη στην οποία θα βρισκεστε.
4. With the "mini-bus taxis" that you can rent the nuts or ask to be picked up at the monastery or hermitage in which he would.
5. Με ζώο (μουλάρι ) το οποίο μπορείτε να νοικιάσετε στις Καρυές. In animal (mule) that can be rented at Karyes.
6. Με τα πόδια , ακολουθώντας τα χαρακτηριστικά μονοπάτια του Όρους. On foot, following the trails of Mt features. Η διαδρομή, όπου και αν κατευθυνθείτε, θα σας συναρπάσει. The route, wherever you go, you enthralled. Σε πολλά σημεία θα συναντήσετε πηγές με δροσερό νερό. In many places you will find sources of fresh water. Η βλάστηση είναι πλούσια. The vegetation is rich. Τα τοπία ειδυλλιακά. The idyllic scenery. Χρειάζεται προσοχή όμως, διότι είναι σύνηθες να χαθείτε στα πολυδαίδαλα μονοπάτια, που συχνά διακόπτονται μέσα στα πυκνά δέντρα ή μπροστά σε χαράδρες και βράχια, Caution though, because they often get lost in the labyrinthine paths, which often interrupted in the dense trees or in front of ravines and cliffs,
7. από τη Δάφνη στους αρσανάδες των μονών Σίμωνος Πέτρα, Γρηγορίου, Διονυσίου, Αγίου Παύλου, Νέα Σκήτη, Σκήτη Αγίας Αννας και, όταν ο καιρός επιτρέπει, ως τα Κατουνάκια, τον αρσανά της Σκήτης Προδρόμου και το Μανδράκι της Μεγίστης Λαύρας Daphne in the arsenal of the monasteries Simon Stone, Gregoriou, Dionysiou, Saint Paul, New Skete, Cloister of St. Anne, and when the weather allows, as the Katounakia, the arsenal of the cloister and the Forerunner of the Great Lavra Mandraki από τη Δάφνη στους αρσανάδες των μονών Αγίου Παντελεήμονος, Ξενοφώντος, Δοχειαρίου. Daphne in the arsenal of the monasteries of Saint Panteleimon, Xenophon monastery. Κωνσταμονίτου και Ζωγράφου Konstamonitou and Campus από τον αρσανά της Μονής Ιβήρων στους αρσανάδες των μονών Φιλόθεου, Καρακάλου, Μεγίστης Λαύρας (Μανδράκι) ή the arsenal of the monastery in Iberians arsenal of single Philotheous, Karakalou, Great Lavra (Mandraki) or
8. από τον αρσανά της Μονής Ιβήρων στους αρσανάδες των μονών Σταυρονικήτα, Παντοκράτορος, Βατοπεδίου, Εσφιγμένου και Χελανδαρίου. the arsenal of the monastery in Iberians arsenal of single Stavronikita Almighty, Vatopedi Esphigmenou and Chelandari.
9. Ο περίπλους του Αθω μπορεί να γίνει και με άλλα σκάφη, με επιβάτες και γυναίκες, τα οποία όμως απαγορεύεται να προσεγγίσουν τις ακτές. The journey of Athos can be done with other ships, with passengers and women, but forbidden to approach the coast. Πρέπει να απέχουν από αυτές περισσότερο από 500 μέτρα. They must refrain from them more than 500 meters. Είναι επίσης δυνατές ναυλώσεις πλοίων από άλλα γειτονικά λιμάνια. It is also possible chartering vessels from other neighboring ports.     Το ψάρεμα, εκτός από το υποβρύχιο, επιτρέπεται μετά από σχετική άδεια (ευλογία). Fishing, except the submarine may upon authorization (blessing).
10. Με πλοίο: By boat: Το θαλάσσιο μπάνιο δεν επιτρέπεται (όπως φαίνεται κι από κάποιες πινακίδες σε ακτές). The swimming is not allowed (as evidenced by some signs on beaches). Σε κάποιες περιπτώσεις, δίνεται ευλογία (άδεια) γι' αυτό, αλλά σε σημεία που κάποιος δεν φαίνεται εύκολα. In some cases, given blessing (permission) for this, but some points are not easily seen. Χρειάζεται όμως προσοχή, διότι οι ακτές είναι συνήθως βραχώδεις, η θάλασσα βαθιά και όχι σπάνια η εμφάνιση καρχαριών. But it needs attention, because the coasts are often rocky, the sea is deep and not infrequently the emergence of sharks.

Στις Καρυές και τη Δάφνη λειτουργούν μικροί ξενώνες, εστιατόρια, καταστήματα τροφίμων και ειδών αγιορείτικης τέχνης, βιβλιοπωλεία κ.ά. Karyes and Daphne operate small guesthouses, restaurants, shops, food and Mount Athos art, bookstores, etc.

Mount Athos - Phone numbers

Mount Athos - Phone numbers (Daphne, Karyes, monasteries, holy Skites)

TELEPHONE DIRECTORY in Daphne

  KARYES  Phone numbers

Phone numbers from the Monasteries

SKETE - Phone numbers

Geographical Posistion

Geography

Mount Athos is situated in the entire third, eastern and most beautiful peninsula of Halkidiki, called the peninsula of Athos. It is the only place in Greece that is completely dedicated to prayer and worship of God. For this reason, it is called the Holy Mount. The Holy Mount is about 50 Km in length, 8 to 12 Km in width and it covers an area of about 350 square kilometres. The borders of the monasterial city are defined on the ground by an imaginary line that starts from the location "FRAGOKASTRO" in the West coast and reaches the cape "ARAPIS" in the opposite end. The natural beauty of the peninsula is extraordinary. The highest point of Mount Athos is like a huge cone, reaching 2033 metres in height. It’s a naked, treeless crest that seems to lance the sky and its slopes are fully covered by ancient evergreens. All these help to create an area of incomparable natural beauty.

 Mythology

According to mythology the name Athos belongs to a Thracian giant. During the conflict between the Gods and the Giants, Athos threw a huge rock against Poseidon (the God), but the rock slipped through his fingers and fell to the sea creating a huge block of land which is now Mount Athos. In a different version it was Poseidon who threw the rock against Athos. The rock crushed Athos and burried him underneath. This rock was called Mount Athos.

Antiquity

Up to the 3rd century BC, there where quite a few small Greek towns in the peninsula. Later, for unknown reasons, these towns fell into decay or were destroyed, resulting in a deserted area for many centuries.

Christianity

According to tradition, the Virgin Mary with John the Evangelist, or their way to visit Lazarus in Cyprus, encountered a stormy sea that forced them to temporarily seek refuge in the port which is now the Holy Monastery of Ivira. The Virgin Mary, admiring the wild beauty of the place, asked God to give her the mountain as a present. Then the voice of our Lord was heard saying: "Let this place be your lot, your garden and your paradise, as well as a salvation, a haven for those who seek salvation". Since then, Mount Athos is considered as "The Garden of the Virgin Mary". In the 5th century AD, the first monks came to Mount Athos, who disappointed from the boredom of everyday communal life, found this beautiful and uninhabited place ideal for worship their God.

Mount Athos

History of Mount Athos

The first monasteries were initially built during the era of Constantine the Great, but lots of them were destructed. Most of them though were rebuilt by various kings.

The first Mount Athos’ residents were Peter the Athonite, and later Euthymios the Thessalonikes. The most important reasons for Mount Athos’ inhabitance by ascetic monks were the cities’destructions by various wars, having as result the destruction of the monasteries as well. Iconoclasm that broke out in Constantinople, also played a great role, forcing lots of monks to look for a shelter to isolated locations.

In 1960, Athanasios the Athonite, coming from Minor Asia, and with the valuable help of Nikephoros Phokas, founded the Megistis Lavras Monastery. A little later were founded the monasteries of Iviron, Vatopediou, Chilandariou, and through the centuries, the other monasteries as well.

Since then, Mount Athos suffered from lots of destructions and wars. It still remains though intact and it is considered to be the biggest castle of orthodoxy.

Mythology
According to mythology the name Athos belongs to a Thracian giant. During the conflict between the Gods and the Giants, Athos threw a huge rock against Poseidon (the God), but the rock slipped through his fingers and fell to the sea creating a huge block of land which is now Mount Athos.
In a different version it was Poseidon who threw the rock against Athos. The rock crushed Athos and burried him underneath. This rock was called Mount Athos.
Antiquity
Up to the 3rd century BC, there where small Greek towns in the peninsula. Later, for unknown reasons, these towns fell into decay or were destroyed, resulting in a deserted area for many centuries.
 
Christianity
According to tradition, the Virgin Mary with John the Evangelist, or their way to visit Lazarus in Cyprus, encountered a stormy sea that forced them to temporarily seek refuge in the port which is now the Holy Monastery of Ivira. The Virgin Mary, admiring the wild beauty of the place, asked God to give her the mountain as a present. Then the voice of our Lord was heard saying: "Let this place be your lot, your garden and your paradise, as well as a salvation, a haven for those who seek salvation". Since then, Mount Athos is considered as "The Garden of the Virgin Mary".
In the 5th century AD, the first monks came to Mount Athos, who disappointed from the boredom of everyday communal life, found this beautiful and uninhabited place ideal for worship their God.
 
  Mount Athos is autonomous and is dominated by the Patriarchate in Istanbul. The Holy Supervision is constituted by the abbots of the monasteries, and it has its headquarters in Karies.
 There are 20 abbeys from which the 17 are Greek, 1 Russian, 1 Serbian and 1 Bulgarian. ,

In a hierarchical order the monasteries of Mount Athos are:

• The Holy Monastery of the Great Lavra
• The Great and Holy Monastery of Vatopaedi
• The Holy Monastery of Iviron
• The Holy Monastery of Chilandari (or Chelandari)
• The Holy Monastery of Dionysiou
• The Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou
• The Holy Monastery of Pantokratoros
• The Holy Monastery of Xiropotamou
• The Holy Monastery of Zographou
• The Holy Monastery of Docheiariou
• Τhe Holy Monastery of Karakalou
• The Holy Monastery of Filotheou
• The Holy Monastery of Simonos Petras
• The Holy Monastery of Agiou Pavlou
• The Holy Monastery of Stavronikita
• The Holy Monastery of Xenophontos
• The Holy Monastery of Grigoriou
• The Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou
• The Holy Monastery of Saint Panteleimonos
• The Holy Monastery of Konstamonitou

The skete are:

• The Nea Skiti
• Skiti Agia Anna
• Skiti Agias Triados - Kafsokalivia
• Skiti Timiou Prodromou (Rumanian)
• Skiti Agiou Dimitriou
• Skiti Agiou Andrea
• Skiti Timiou Prodomou or Iberian
• Skite Agiou Panteleimonos (Koutloumousiou)
• Skiti Agiou Dimitriou (Lakkoskiti)
• Skite of Prophet Elias
• Skite Xenophontos
• Katounakia
• Karoulia