Elder Paisios

Let us always try to do good without expecting anything

A day of a Monk

about his life

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Monasteries

Τoday on Mount Athos there are 20 monasteries

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WELCOME TO MOUNT ATHOS INFORMATION

The Holy Mount Athos is an autonomous and self-governed territory of Greece. It occupies the whole of the third peninsula of Halkidiki Greece, about 50 km in length and having a breadth of 8-12 km covering an area of 330 square kilometers.

In the centre of the peninsula of Mount Athos rise a long range of hills and mountains, culminating in Mount Athos itself, 2,033m above sea level.

The boarder of this monastic state, where it meets the rest of Greece, is marked by an imaginary line drawn from Francocastro on the western coast across to Cape Arapis on the opposite coast, passing close it the foothills of the mountain “Megali Vigla” (Megas Zigos).

Until the 3rd Century BC, many small Greek towns existed on the peninsula of Athos, principally colonies originating from Chalkida and Eretria. The most important of which were Sani, Ouranoupolis, Thisson, Kleones, Dion, Akrathos and Olofixos. Later, these towns declined or were destroyed.

MONASTERIES IN MOUNT ATHOS

View all the monasteries in the Holy Mountain

Monastery-Hilandar

Monastery Hilandariou

During the 14th century, the monastery reached its highest peak, accumulating riches and heirlooms from imperial as well as private donnations

Monastery-Stavronikita

Monastery Stavronikita

It is one of the smallest monasteries of the Holy Mountain following however the traditional architecture, with the Katholicon in the middle.

Monastery-Xenophontos

Monastery Xenofondos

It is built by the sea, between the monasteries of Docheiariou and St Panteleimonos, and is dedicated to St George.

Monastery-Vatopedi

Monastery Vatopediou

The monastery was built during the second half of the 10th century, by three monks, Athanasius, Nicholas and Antonius from Adrinople

HOLY SKITES

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skiti koinoviaki profiti ilia

SKETE OF PROPHET ELIAS

It was founded in 1759 by the Russian monk Paisio Velitchkofsky. The katholikon (main temple) was bouilt in 1903.

mikra agia anna

SKETE AGIA ANNA

Five hours away from the monastery of Megisti Lavra and one hour away from Saint Paul’s monastery Mount Athos

nea-skiti

THE NEA SKETE

Nea skete it is built near the sea. It was founded in 1760 and belongs to the monastery of St. Paul. It consists of 37 cells and huts

katounakia

KATOUNAKIA

Katounakia is a hermit’s area and it lies between Mikri Agia Anna Skite and Karoulia. There are 22 hermitages with 35 monks.