The Holy Mountain Athos

or as the Greeks say: Agion Oros, which means the holy mountain. But when insiders say Agion Oros, they mean something like the Holy City. However, the Athos kept alive it's ancient tradition and orthodox Christianity in their seclusion for more than 1000 years. It is the heart of Orthodoxy and has survived many centuries and resisted all outside influences.

The life of the monks is a deep mystery behind the monastery walls, from which the pilgrims have only the grace to take a short look and feel God. For the outsiders is difficult to understand how the Holy Mountain Athos, for about 1000 years, could defy all the influenses and kept it's existance the same as at the beginning.

We will never be able to take a look at the entire world of the monks, but after a visit to the garden of God's Mother, as the Holy Mountain is called by the monks, we will be closer to the Lord. Such a trip leaves footsteps in your heart and writes indelibly in our book of life. This is the gift of the monks to us in our trip, searching for God.

What are the visitors or the pilgrims who visit a monastery on Mount Athos, earn from the long walks and the hardships? These people will, perhaps, answer love, comfort, peace or reference to God. The question is what is looking a man who opts for the monastic life as a monk? We have discussed this issue often and each time had answers, which may be correct or partly correct. Have we really expected to answer questions like this simply? Perhaps we can use the words of an abbot in one of the monasteries on Mount Athos, to answer this question:

The monastic life is the attempt of the faithful and the yearning of people to live freely, to live happy and to make their way with God. It is the way to God. The more we live with the Holy Spirit, seeking for God, the more we are close to monks. A deep mystery is the life of the monks behind the monastery walls, the pilgrims only have the grace to make a brief glimpse. If you meet the monks and look into their faces, they are always friendly, you can see the power that they radiate. It is like a light in the dark, which gives us our strength and also comforts us. We will never understand the entire monastic life, but after a visit to Mount Athos, we are closer to the Lord and the power of the monks will illuminate our lives and allow us perhaps to see the good things in life.

A visit to the monasteries, give us a sense of the unchanging and the eternal love, such trip leaves it's marks indelibly in our book of life. This is the gift of the monks to us in our search for the Lord.

A wide range of selected images of Mount Athos. All images are under copyright of Holidays and more and may not be copied or where express permission.

Enjoy a unique impression of Mount Athos.