“May this place be your inheritance, and your garden, and paradise, and the pier of salvation, wishing to be saved,” the Lord said in response to the request of the Blessed Virgin to give her Mount Athos. Since then, this mountain has received the status of the Holy Mountain at the request of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to legend, this happened in the year 49, since then no woman has visited this blessed place. Thus the Mother of God commanded, protecting the peace and peace of the monks who had dedicated themselves to the Lord.
Earthly portion of the Mother of God
Mount Athos is a peninsula in eastern Greece, rising more than 2,000 meters above sea level. The population of the Holy Mountain is a monastic community. All the monasteries of St. Athos are sociable, in total about one and a half thousand monks live on the Mountain. Almost the entire peninsula is covered with rich and lush vegetation. The beauty of the place amazes with its pristine power, it is believed that precisely because of the grandeur of the local beauties, the Blessed Virgin marked this place.
The earliest abode of a blessed place
The oldest and largest monastery is located on the southeastern part of the peninsula: the Great Lavra was founded in the tenth century and is located at the very foot of the peak. The founder of the Lavra is considered to be St. Athanasius of Athos, the Lavra occupies a dominant position in the hierarchy of "the monasteries of Athos." The Holy Mountain has two dozen monasteries, three of them were founded in the first millennium. In the tenth century, St. John Iversky founded a monastery named after the Virgin of Iver. In the northeastern part of the peninsula, above the sea, the majestic Vatopedi Monastery rises, founded around 980. It was founded by three holy elders who arrived on the island to live the monastic life of St. Athanasius. Vatopedi Monastery belongs to the second step in the hierarchy of “Athos Monasteries”. Greece included Athos in the UNESCO World Heritage List, after which the religious interest in the most ancient monasteries increased significantly.
New Millennium - New Residences
The beginning of the second millennium on Mount Athos was marked by the emergence of new monastic cloisters in this holy place. In the second century of the second millennium, the Serbian king and his son arrived on Athos and took tonsure, this served as the basis for the emergence of a new monastery, known as Hilandar (Serbian). The place of origin of the monastery is characterized by picturesque vegetation and a small distance from the sea (about 4 kilometers). The main icon of the monastery is considered the icon of the Mother of God “Three Hands”, there are other Orthodox shrines on the territory of the monastery. According to the history of the peninsula, at about the same time another monastery of the monastic community, Mount Athos, began its history. Kutlumush Monastery was founded by an Arab who converted to Christianity, therefore it is considered Arab. This place is famous for its holy relics and vestments, it also has many wonderful icons.
The smallest holy monastery and monastery of "zealots"
From the depths of time at the turn of the first and second millennia, the smallest monastery of Mount Athos has its history. The monastery of Stavronikita was founded by officer Nikifor Nikita, this small monastery is famous for its great value - the icon of St. Nicholas dating back to the 13-14 centuries. Those who want to get to Stavronikita should be guided by the eastern part of the peninsula. In the same part of Mount Athos, pilgrims will be able to visit a unique monastery that does not have canonical communication with other cloisters of the peninsula. This so-called monastery of "zealots" or the monastery of Esfigmen. It has been leading its history since the tenth century, it has survived many disasters, fires. In this monastery many holy relics are stored.
Miracles of the Bulgarian monastery
The western part of the peninsula will welcome pilgrims with silence, a prayer break and the pier of the Bulgarian monastery Zograf. The holy monastery leads its history from the beginning of the tenth century, as well as several other shrines of Mount Athos. Zograf Monastery was founded by three brothers of the royal family from the Bulgarian Orkhida. According to legend, the brothers waited a long time for a sign from the Almighty in order to understand in honor of which saint the monastery was named. And the sign came: the face of Great Martyr George appeared on the board. More than once in the holy monastery recorded cases of the miraculous manifestation of God's mercy. In the 13th century, a praying elder heard a warning about an impending disaster, after which the icon of the Mother of God “the Forerunner” came to the monastery, carried by angels. Some time later, the 26 monks remaining in the temple were burned by the Lithuanians, one icon survived. A year later, during the requiem, 26 rays of light descended from the sky on the ashes.
Greek monasteries on the Holy Mountain
Pilgrims following from the Bulgarian monastery, after two and a half kilometers will fall into the Greek monastery of Constamonite. Tradition says that the founder of the monastery was Emperor Constantine the Great himself. Constamonite was originally conceived as a small monastery for the Greeks who want to convert to the Christian faith. Repeatedly in the monastery there were recorded cases of the wonderful Divine grace, for which Mount Athos is famous. Konstamonit Monastery will offer pilgrims to pray at three miraculous icons: “Portaitissa”, “Image of St. Stephen”, “Virgin Mary Antiphonetria”. The monks testify that once, on the feast of St. Stephen, the monk was worried about the lack of oil in the monastery. In response to his concern, a pitcher under the Antiphonetry icon filled itself with oil. This monk jug is shown with special pleasure to visitors.
Part of the history of the Russian Orthodox Church in the history of Athos monasticism
The close connection between Russian Orthodoxy and Athos monasticism can be traced back to the 11th century: near the Esfigmen Monastery, the Russian monk Anthony, the future founder of monasticism in Russia and the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, tonsured it. At different times, many Russian ascetics began their Orthodox journey in this blessed place, choosing the monasteries of Athos as their starting point in Orthodoxy. The Holy Mountain also sheltered the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon or Old Rusik. History also points to Russian monasteries: Xylurgu and the monastery of the holy prophet Elijah. However, for disobedience, Russian monks in the 90s were deprived of Greek citizenship and expelled from the holy cloisters of Mount Athos. The monastery of St. Panteleimon today is inhabited by Greek monks.
The bold cloister on the Holy Mountain
At the very top of the mountain, the Simonapetra Monastery or the Rock of Simon rises by the testimony of God's grace. The monastery was named after its founder, St. Simon, who followed the vision that appeared to him in a dream. This monastery on Mount Athos impresses pilgrims with the courage and strength of construction and the principles of holiness. The great asset, which the monastery is rightfully proud of, is the right hand of Mary Magdalene, not exposed to decay for more than two thousand years, while it remains as warm as the hand of a living person.
The monastery of monks of different countries
The northeastern part of the peninsula will meet pilgrims with lush green chestnuts and the monastery of Philotheus, one of the oldest shrines of Mount Athos. The monastery sheltered the monks from different countries: Russians, Greeks, Canadians, Romanians, Germans. The monastery has many shrines, the main of which are two miraculous icons: two-sided - “Sweet kiss” of the Mother of God and “Gracious”, which itself came to the temple and determined its place. Pilgrims will also be able to see in this monastery the Particle of the Cross of the Lord, the incorrupt right hand of John Chrysostom, pray and ask for healing at the foot of Panteleimon the Healer.