A Pilgrimage to Mount Athos

Why is Mount Athos important?

Athos is an incredible place, the Holy Mountain halfway between Heaven and Earth. For the last 1500 years, Athos has been occupying a special place in the Christian Orthodox world: the way of life here is not subject to worldly laws. It’s an autonomous monastic state under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Constantinople, it is an autonomous part of Greece, with Greek being the state language.

Today on Mount Athos there are 20 functioning monasteries, which have patriarchal stavropegial status (17 Greek and three Slavonic: one Russian, one Bulgarian and one Serbian). Apart from the monasteries on the Holy Mountain, there are 12 sketae and more than 500 kellia and desert settlements. Generally, about 2,000 monks live on Mount Athos.

How to visit Mount Athos?

Book our excursion, and let’s explore. The programme includes visiting the most important monasteries dearly loved in the Christian Orthodox world.

The pilgrimage begins in Ouranoupoli where we take a boat to the Athonite State. We arrive at the pier of the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery in Athos, where the honourable head of the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon and the miracle-working icon are treasured.

We set out to our next destination by car. It is the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi (972) where seven miraculous icons are safekept, including the Pantanassa (“Queen of All”)  known for healing cancer. The icon called “Paramythia,” “Comfort” or “Consolation,” a favourite icon of Saint Dimitry of Rostov, is here, too. Main shrines of this monastery are the belt of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Honorable Head of St. John Chrysostom.

On to the next point of our journey. It is Karyes, the capital of Athos, with the Parliament and representative offices of 20 monasteries. The main temple here is the Protaton, the church of Protos, the head of the monastic community. Karyes is also home to the primary shrine of Athos: the icon “Axion Estin” (“It Is Truly Meet”), dated 962, depicting the Theotokos (Mother of God), who is the patroness of the whole Athos.

Then, we visit the majestic skete of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called (XIX), built by Russian monks and benefactors, where the Honorable Head of this great Saint and one of the closest disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ rests.

Next on our path is the monastic cell of the Hilandar Monastery, where we visit the miracle-working icon “Galaktotrophousa” (“Milk-giver”) and the cave where the Saint Sava of Serbia strived.

The next stop of our spiritual journey is the Philotheou monastery (987), home of the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Panagia Glykophilousa, “Sweet-kissing.” The style of this icon is unlike any other known icon painting schools. It is double-sided. One side features the Most Holy Theotokos and the God-Child. The other side depicts the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before the icon, people pray for health, wisdom and healing children and adults from sickness.

We then head on to the Iviron monastery hosting the miracle-working icon the Iviron Theotokos and more relics of canonised holy saints of God than any other monastery on Athos.

Upon finishing the pilgrimage we take a boat from the pier of the St. Panteleimon Monastery back to Ouranupoli.

Details

Only men can visit Athos, irrespective of religion (apologies, ladies, women are not allowed in).

Pilgrims are accompanied by a Christian Orthodox guide and travel about Athos in an SUV or minibus.

Time:

8:30 - meeting point with the guide in Ouranoupoli
19:00 - approximate time of the trip wrap-up in Ouranoupoli

Important:

- The maximum amount of people in a group is 7
- Normally, visa processing takes up to two days (if they are not preceded by weekend and holidays)
- Visa can be denied without explanation
- Passport is required for obtaining Diamonitirion/visa
- When in Athos, please, be respectful of the rules of the monastic state (the guide will walk you through them)
- During the pilgrimage, a lunch is not included
- Photo and video shooting are permitted on all the territory of Athos except for temples and, in some cases, monasteries

The excursion price includes:

- Reservation of Diamonitirion/visa
- Guide services, transport on Mount Athos
- Speedboat/ferry: Ouranoupoli - Athos
- Boat: Athos - Ouranoupoli
- Group transfer: hotel - Ouranoupoli - hotel

Additional/on-site charges:

- Stamp duty/Athos tax: 25 euros per person for the laity, 10 euros per person for clergymen, monks and children under 16

NOTE: the organisers reserve the right to change the list of monasteries due to certain reasons, i.e. transport, weather, etc.