The Holy Community of Mount Athos

The Holy Community of Mount Athos is an autonomous monastic region in northern Greece, comprising 20 monasteries and numerous smaller abbeys and hermitages. It has been a center of Eastern Orthodox Christian monasticism for over a millennium, emphasizing prayer, spiritual study, and ascetic practices. Governed by a spiritual council of representatives from each monastery, Mount Athos operates with a high degree of religious independence while respecting Greek authorities. It is renowned for its spiritual heritage, preserving medieval traditions, sacred icons, and manuscripts, and is considered one of the most significant monastic hubs for Orthodox Christianity worldwide.