Athos Monastic Republic

The Athos Monastic Republic is an autonomous monastic community located on Mount Athos in Greece, inhabited exclusively by Eastern Orthodox monks. Established over a thousand years ago, it functions as a self-governing religious entity with its own administrative authority and traditions. While politically part of Greece, Athos maintains a special status that grants it religious independence, including the right to regulate its internal affairs and monasteries. It is renowned for its spiritual heritage, monastic discipline, and a community of about 20 monasteries and numerous hermitages, making it a unique center of Eastern Orthodox spirituality and monastic life.