Ascetic life, deacons, spiritual guidance, the unmistakable Byzantine ritual, the traditions and the arts of centuries, the Athenian gastronomy and the challenges of the modern world. Prime Time’s camera and Christos Nikolaidis record daily life in the monastic state, on the Athos peninsula, through the eyes of its people – monk and pilgrims.

“No one leaves Mount Athos as it comes”

As it begins and dawns and the first races of the sun begins and bathe the monastery, the element of quiet and tranquility culminates. After all, this element is dominant in the life of Mount Athos. Early in the morning, the first speedboat will reach the Holy Monastery of Xenophon to bring the first pilgrims.

“It is true that the world has drowned us … But if people come in we cannot close the doors. If they come, we will accept them. And I think this is also a mission in our day,” Notes Hieromonk Alexios, Abbot IM Xenophon.

“No one is leaving Mount Athos as it comes. As when one enters a mill that grinds the flour. It doesn’t come out as it entered. It is a place that is not assimilated but assimilated. A place that has actually played such a regenerative role. ”

“Life is not treated with despair. Life has unpredictable”

In the vegetable garden of the monastery we find the 27 -year -old monk Emmanuel, from Larissa, who, although he studied financially in Aristotle, chose Mount Athos.

“Spiritual microclimate”

The carpenter of the monastery is located in an idyllic spot in the woods, where wood carvers make icons, iconostasis, anything for the ecclesiastical space, which are sent worldwide. “And Australia and America and Russia and everywhere. And of course here in Greece in many places” Explains Hieromonk Seraphim.

He estimates that “People are distressed psychologically. This lifestyle they live, especially in cities, is unbearable. There is a microclimate here we would say spiritual. An environment that submits man and inspires him. the world and us. ”

“Attempt to influence the Russian factor”

“There is an effort, by the Russian factor, influenced the functioning of Mount Athos. This is something that has been perceived and is something that is being controlled right now. The arc that begins Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Syria, Middle East, Yemen is a bow of incredible instability ” Alcibiades Stefanis, General Ea, emphasizes. – T. National Defense – Mount Athos Political Commander.

200,000 visits per year

Mount Athos receives about 200,000 visitors a year, coming from over 104 world countries. The political administration of Mount Athos is also responsible for implementing the restriction of over -tourism. The aim is to limit the number of pilgrims so as not to disturb the life of the monks and not to alter the character and atmosphere of the monasteries.

The “Keliotes” hermit

One category of monasticism is the Celiots, but they live on their own. These are the hermites of our time. Christos Nikoliades and Prime Time’s camera was accepted by Father Chariton, who has been living in the cell of St. George for 24 years, just outside Karyes and belongs to the Koutloumousiou Monastery.

Chariton, as well as several Cellians, preferred the quiet of the communion and choose to endure the difficulties of lonely life and pass everything through their hands to enjoy a unique sense of freedom and spirituality.

Chariton found himself in Athos in 1974. Then he was a 15 -year -old child. The monastic state captivated him. From the very first day there, he realized that he could not live away from her.

“The real Mount Athos is hidden. You have to look to find it the real one. It is not what the Mount Athos looks. Like virtue, it is hidden. It is not revealed by virtue, nor is it advertised. This ecstactment that is slowly entering the saint. The term is against him.“ Father of Chariton.

And responded about: “A monk is a sinner? We are all sinners, and the monks first.”

Stimulating psychology and sense of spirituality

Pilgrims are hosted in the Monasteries for free. They feel, as they say, even more beautiful when they enter the life of the monastery and voluntarily clean their room or help clean the kitchens or bank. A pilgrimage to Mount Athos is, as most people say, Greeks and foreigners, a unique stimulation of psychology and the sense of spirituality.

This also applies to Emmanuel, a 24 -year -old Greek -American who traveled from New Jersey to worship the Athenian state.

The monk Amphilochios is Chinese. He grew up in Australia. During his studies in Britain, he discovered Orthodoxy. “Now I am ecclesiastical, that is, I work in the churches and prepare the church for the functions. Every day, that is, I prepare the church. I put oil on the candles, I clean the candles a little.”

Peter is from Ukraine and studies in Thessaloniki. As a guide he goes to Mount Athos for pilgrimage groups of his compatriots. Last month, he toured a group of Ukrainian Veterans- wounded warriors of the war who wanted to visit the monastic state to pray and get power.

The Skete of Prophet Elias, which belongs to the Holy Monastery of Pantokrator, is one of the most beautiful buildings in all Mount Athos. He began to be built in 1759 by Ukrainian and Russian monks. In 1903 the cathedral was built. Then, because of the October Revolution, the monks abandoned Mount Athos.

“The monk is not a fugitive nor he is a deserter. Equally he is one of those who are pioneers because they look like the lobby … he goes ahead to open a road. Because he gives a chest to chest battle with the wicked” says the monk Filimonas.

“Many times I saw that people are looking for their roots, spirituals and seeking the roots of the spiritual one ends in Orthodoxy, in the Church that without interruption conveyed the Gospel and as a tradition (20:29) and as an act to this day. And they, and they, Asking for something deeper or often frustrated and from the doctrine they are, they ask us and come to Orthodoxy ” Father Theologos tells.