Agion Oros (Mount Athos): An Orthodox Spiritual Center 

Mount Athos, also known as “Agion Oros” (it means Holy Mountain in Greek), is the center of Orthodox Christian monasticism. It is a place where it seems to have touched by God, offering a unique serenity and a stunning natural architecture. It is the only place in the world where female presence is banned. The only residents are monks from around the globe, Greeks, Russians, Serbs, Romanians and many other nationalities. Mount Athos is an autonomous monastic state within the borders of Greece, on the Athos peninsula of Chalkidiki. 

The history of Agion Oros is more than 1000 years old, while the presence of monks is located from the 4th century AD. In the 20 Holy Monasteries are items, artwork and books of enormous historical and religious importance. One of the most important of these is the image of the Theotokos “Axion Estin”, located in the temple of Protaton in the capital, Karyes. 

How to Get? Fly to Thessaloniki Airport “Makedonia” (SKG) and drive to the 3rd leg of Halkidiki, Agion Oros. 

Monasteries 

At Mount Athos there are 20 monasteries , which are classified as “Major”, “Royal”, “Patriarchal” and “Stavropegic”. Major because they retain ownership and organizational self-government of their space, not subject to any limitation as to the number of monks. Royal because their inception is due to instruction or assistance from the Byzantine Empire and Patriarchal named when associated with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Stavropegic monastery named those established with the cross from the Ecumenical Patriarchate. 

These are: 

Holy Monastery of Great Lavra 

Holy Monastery of Vatopedi 

Holy Monastery of Iberians 

Holy Monastery of Chiliandariou (Serbian) 

Holy Monastery of Dionysiou 

Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou 

Holy Monastery of Pantocrator 

Holy Monastery of Xeropotamou 

Holy Monastery of Zografou (Bulgarian) 

Holy Monastery of Docheiariou 

Holy Monastery of Karakallou 

Holy Monastery of Philotheou 

Holy Monastery Simonos Petras 

Holy Monastery of St. Paul 

Holy Monastery of Stavronikita 

Holy Monastery of Xenofontos 

Holy Monastery of Gregory 

Holy Monastery of Esfigmenou 

Holy Monastery of St. Panteleimon (Russian) 

Holy Monastery of Konstamonitou 

  

Visit and pilgrimage 

Geographically, Mount Athos is the third “leg” of Chalkidiki and the access there is only by sea, from Ouranoupolis or Ierissos. Essential for the pilgrims is the special documents issued after consultation with the Pilgrims Office in Thessaloniki.