Mount Athos -commonly known as the Holy Mountain- is one of the most important centres of Eastern Orthodox monasticism, located in northeastern Greece and more specifically in the easternmost "leg" of Chalkidiki.

It is home to 20 monasteries, 12 skites, and about 700 houses, cells or hermitages and approximately 2,000 monks. Α religious community with 1.000 years old monasteries, cells in caves or between the rocks, towers, domes and chants and has been listed as a Wolrd Heritage site since 1988.

The monasteries follow Byzantine architecture built with massive walls that used to protect them from pirates and other invaders of the past. This is what gives the fortress-like appearance.

Its long historical monastic traditions date back to at least 800 A.D. Hundreds of monks from various orthodox countries such as Greece, Romania, Moldova, Georgia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Russia live there, isolated from the rest of the world.

In Athonite monasteries there is a big collection of well-preserved artifacts, rare books, ancient documents and artworks of great historical value.

The number of daily visitors to Mount Athos is restricted and it is required to obtain a special entrance permit valid for a limited period of time. Only men are allowed to visit and the residents must be 18 and over. Women can only cruise along the west coast of Mount Athos and admire that beauty of nature as well as the monasteries. This is because Mount Athos is dedicated to one woman whom all the monks honour and pray to; the Blessed Mary. So obviously the photos are not mine but my dad's who visited Mount Athos last month.

As he told me it is a very spiritual place with an incomparable and unique atmosphere...

On my next post I will share with you something truly incredible. My dad brought me something that literally did wonders!

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Athos