Monasteries
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Mt. Athos, Akti Peninsula, 3 Fingers, Greece
A view of Mt. Athos from the eastern side of the peninsula
Mt Athos

The 'Holy Mountain', which is forbidden to women and children, is also a recognized artistic site. The layout of the monasteries (about 20 of which are presently inhabited by some 1,400 monks) had an influence as far afield as Russia, and its school of painting influenced the history of Orthodox art.


Inclined View of Mt. Athos from Google Earth



Highlighted are some of the main Monasteries on the Peninsula

The Akti Peninsula, the right-most finger, is the location of Mt. Athos and medieval monasteries.  Many of the monasteries are located on precipitous cliffs.  The monasteries use the Julian calendar which is 13 days behind the Gregorian /Roman calendar and they use the Byzantine clock that passes time by looking at constant angular distances that the sun traverses (Constant Azimuthal Segments).  Thus each hour of time has a variable length depending upon the declination of the sun and the time of the year.

This peninsula has been the Orthodox spiritual centre since 1054 with the first monastery being built in 954. Mount Athos has enjoyed an autonomous statute since Byzantine times. The 'Holy Mountain', which is forbidden to women and children, is also a recognized artistic site. The layout of the monasteries (about 20 of which are presently inhabited by some 1,400 monks) had an influence as far afield as Russia, and its school of painting influenced the history of Orthodox art.



Scenes from our Clockwise Traverse of the Akti Peninsula
Monasteries, Cloisters and Hermitages
Comments
Esphigmenou


The first monastery we saw was built in 1034.    We were about a mile off at this point, not being sure if we cold go closer.  As time went on, we became bolder and went in closer as you will see in the following pictures which are presented in the order in which we saw them.

See: http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/Greek/athesfig.html
Vatopediou

Founded in the 10th century is reportedly the most modern monastery with electricity, telephone and regular visits by ferry

See: http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang
/Greek/athvatop.html
Pantorkratora

We feel pretty confident that we got most of the names and pictures of the monasteries correct except for this and the next one.  It could be that this one is Stavronikita.  We just aren't sure.  There seems to be very little published about the Eastern side of the peninsula.  This is primarily due to the fact that the tour operators do not come to this side of the peninsula since the wx and the sea conditions are usually bad or at least uncomfortable for their paid guests.

See: http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/
Greek/athpanto.html
Stavronikita

Like the one above, we are not sure about this one. It possibly could be Iviron.  According to our documentation, there should be a major monastery here built in 979 CE called Iviron, but these building just looked too desolate and decrepit to us.  When we get a chance we will try to ferret this out

See: http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/
Greek/athstaur.html
Filotheou

See: http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/
Greek/athfilot.html
Karakallou


See: http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/
Greek/athkarak.html
Filotheou
&
Karakalou
in perspective
No Name Monastery

Between Karakalou and Megistis lavras there are several other monasteries.  Hinkel's Guide, Dorling Kindersley Travel Guide on Greece and Chalkidiki Sallelite View and Raodmaps do not show any monasteries other monasteries in this area, but yet, there they are!

Iviron:  See- http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/
Greek/athiviro.html
No Name Monastery

Between Karakalou and Megistis lavras there are several other monasteries.  Hinkel's Guide, Dorling Kindersley Travel Guide on Greece and Chalkidiki Sallelite View and Raodmaps do not show any monasteries other monasteries in this area, but yet, there they are!
No Name Monastery

Between Karakalou and Megistis lavras there are several other monasteries.  Hinkel's Guide, Dorling Kindersley Travel Guide on Greece and Chalkidiki Sallelite View and Raodmaps do not show any monasteries other monasteries in this area, but yet, there they are!  This was a small one, not housing that many monks and in relative comparison to the larger monasteries, it is small enough not to make the cut on the tour guides.  But we liked its location on the NE side of Mt. Athos.
Megistis Lavras

See: http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/
Greek/athlavra.html
Skiti Hmiou Prodromou
If you have a vertigo problem, you probably wouldn't want to be at one of these monasteries.
A closer look shows that there is construction work going on.  Despite the many-fold decrease in the number of monks staying at these monasteries, they must be doing OK judging from the amount of refurbishment and new construction we witnessed.
Perched precariously on the side of this steep cliff under the towering Mt. Athos, this monk carved out his own place.  One wonders how he gets food and water?  Here is a guy who really wants to be alone!


Mt. Athos from the South Western side of the Akti peninsula.  On the upper ridge, you can see some additional monasteries, dwarfed in size by the sheer size of Mt. Athos.
Moni Agiou Pavlou

This monastery at the South Western base of Mt. Athos reportedly houses 90 monks, many from Zakynthos and Kefallonia.  It also has over 13,000 books and manuscripts in its library.
Moni (Agiou) Dionysiou

80 meters above sea level, this monastery was founded by Saint Dionysios in the 14th century.  It was built as a fortress against the marauding pirates of that time.

See: http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/
Greek/athdion.html
Moni Grigoriou

Like the previous monastery, this also was built as a fortress against pirates in the 14th century by Saint Gregory of Sinaa on a site that was believed to be the original site of the Temple of Poseidon.


See: http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/
Greek/athgrigo.html
Mont Simone Petras

Perched on precipitous rock 230 meters above sea level, it is considered to be the most ambitious and difficult construction on all of Mt. Athos.  the location was chosen by Saint Simon when on a Christmas night he saw a star above this location - believe it or not!  The original name of this monastery was "New Bethlehem."

See: http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/
Greek/athsimon.html
Moni Xiropotamou

This monastery is believed to be one of the most ancient monasteries in all of Athos, having been built in 424 CE by Pulcheria, sister of Theodosius.  
Agiou Panteleimomos

This is the Russian Orthodox Monastery of Athos, which can be glimmered from the onion like domes so typical of Russian construction of the time.  It has a bell which weighs 13 tons.    Reportedly, in 1902, 2000 Russian monks resided here.  Today it is reported to have 30.  Founded in the 12 century, some of the buildings have now fallen into ruin, but from what we could see, reconstruction work was ongoing.

See: http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/
Greek/athpante.html
Moin Xenofontos

it is argued whether or not this monastery was founded in the 6th or 16th century CE by Saint Xenofon

See: http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/
Greek/athxenof.html
Docheiariou
(Dohiariou)

This monastery allegedly houses a fragment of the original cross on which Jesus Christ died.  It was founded in the 10th century by  Saint Efthimios, the storekeeper of Megistis Lavra - we wonder what that argument was all about?

See: http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/
Greek/athdoche.html


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