Mount Athos

Mount Athos, the third, easternmost and most magnificent peninsula of Halkidiki

the unique Monastic Community

Mount Athos is a self-governing part of the Greek state, politically under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and religiously under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

It has been territorially divided into 20 self-governing regions.

Each region consists of a dominant monastery and various other monastic settlements around it (hermitages, cells, huts, seats, hermitages).

All monasteries are communal, meaning that there is common worship, prayer, shelter, food and work among the monks. The head of each monastery is the Abbot, who is elected by the monks of the monastery for life.

The Abbots of each monastery constitute the Holy Synax and exercise legislative power.

At the same time, every year the monastery also elects its representative to the Holy Community, which exercises administrative power, while the executive power is exercised by the Holy Supervision, which consists of 4 members selected from the top 5 hierarchical monasteries.

More information about your visit there