Myth or reality – the sacred peninsula of Mount Athos
Is it a myth or a reality – can a woman’s foot step on the sacred peninsula of Mount Athos? After a short research online, it turns out to be true. According to the Constitution of the Hellenic Republic, and according to the Statute of the Monastic Republic, the only visitors to Mount Athos may be male. Like, it’s not easy.
Visit to the Holy Mountain
If you are a man and want to visit Mount Athos, you should start training at least a month in advance. To do this, you must send a scanned photocopy of your ID card or passport to the Thessaloniki Pilgrimage Office. You should also mention information about your profession – teacher, doctor, student, retiree, etc. – it must be written in English or Greek. It is important to note which monasteries you intend to visit and when, and you should know that the permit is issued only for a period of 4 days, ie. you cannot stay more than 4 days on the Mount Athos peninsula. I learned with curiosity that it is not desirable to spend more than 24 hours in a monastery. Unfortunately, I could not find more information whether there are any sanctions if the stay in the monastery lasted more than 24 hours or everything is just a recommendation, but I was amazed at how strict the control of visitors to Mount Athos.
After sending the fax, call the Pilgrimage Desk in 1-2 days to check if everything is OK. Then make a reservation in advance at the monasteries you intend to visit. Your four-day stay in the monasteries will be completely free – this includes accommodation and food. But you must comply with certain requirements in the monasteries – smoking in all monasteries is strictly prohibited, and they are locked as soon as the sun goes down.
Mount Athos is a real mountain peninsula, offering picturesque views and tranquility to its visitors. According to the Greek constitution, it is an autonomous monastic community and the seat of 20 monasteries. In addition to these 20 monasteries, there are 12 more hermitages (which are actually smaller monasteries) and more than 600 cells.
Access to the Mount Athos peninsula is possible by ferry, which can accommodate no more than 120 pilgrims who have received special permission for a 4-day visit. You have to remember that Mount Athos is not a tourist destination – it is a sacred place of worship. The monks in the monasteries are not a tourist attraction! You can’t take pictures of them and take selfies with them! You can’t photograph the inside of the monasteries and collect likes! When you go to the Athos peninsula, indulge in the spiritual part of yourself! Forget about phones, cameras and all the mundane amenities you’re used to. Pilgrims must wear appropriate clothing – all men must wear long pants and shirts / blouses with long sleeves. In general, infidels are not allowed on Mount Athos. Of course, exceptions are possible, but there can be no more than 10 infidels at the same time on the island!
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Zografski Monastery is the most impressive landmark on Mount Athos. But unfortunately, unless you visit it in person, you will have no other opportunity to enjoy the exquisitely painted murals inside it (as already mentioned, it is forbidden to take pictures inside the monasteries).
Among the 20 large monasteries on the Mount Athos peninsula, there are 1 Bulgarian, 1 Russian, 1 Serbian and 17 Greek. All monasteries are subordinated to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is interesting to know that there are still monks on Mount Athos – hermits who live not elsewhere, but in caves!
The bay in Mount Athos is a place you must visit. It is extremely clean and full of fish! For 1000 years no one has hunted in this place and there are no pollutants from humans. Almost a paradise – one of the few untouched by human hands these days!
