Mount Athos is located in the northern part of Eastern Greece. Its height is 2033 meters. It houses the autonomous monastic state of the Holy Mountain, which is a self-governing community of 20 Orthodox monasteries. More than two thousand people live in this community. And among them there is not a single female representative.
According to the descriptions of ancient historians, the first inhabitants of Mount Athos appeared a thousand years before the birth of Christ. But these data could not be confirmed from a scientific point of view. Therefore, when exactly the first local settlements arose is still unknown. However, it is known what the first settlers of the mountain were doing - fishing, raising animals, or farming. Thanks to the favorable location of the mountain - the route from Greece to the East passed by it - the cities were prosperous. But later this flourishing suddenly stopped, the settlements fell into desolation.
The first monks who came to the mountain began to build their homes right on its slopes. Already by 691-692, Mount Athos was a monastic community in which wanderers expelled from different cities settled. Until 883, ordinary lay people lived next to them - shepherds and farmers. Until Basil the Macedonian issued a corresponding decree, after which only monks could live on the mountain.
For some time, the monks developed the charter of their community, while the mountain was recognized as independent and self-governing. The code of rules for monastic life, which was adopted at that time, is valid in the territory of the community today.
The next historical stage in the development of monasticism on Athos was a test of Orthodox monks for their strength of spirit and faith. First, they were attacked by heretic crusaders, then by the Catalans hired to fight the Turks, then by the Uniates and the Turks. The monks were robbed, tortured, killed. During all this difficult time for the community, the total number of residents has decreased by 10 times. Only after the Turks finally left the territory, this happened in 1830, the life of the monks of Athos began to gradually return to its usual peaceful course.
Now on Holy Mount Athos, there is a constant influx of new followers who wish to adopt the long traditions of the monastic community. Among the new residents there are people of various professions and ages, some of them have higher education.
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In total, there are twenty monasteries on the Greek peninsula, where the mountain is located. The oldest of them, called the Great Lavra, was built in 963, and the latest, Stavronikita, in 1542. Mount Athos is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, there is observed both religious and tourism development.
Only now, according to one of the articles of the Charter, it is strictly forbidden to visit Mount Athos "for any female being." For an attempt to enter the territory, a woman can be imprisoned for 8 to 12 months. In addition, the prohibition applies to female pets. Exceptions are laying hens and cats. The first ones lay eggs necessary for icon painting, the second ones catch rats and mice.
Men wishing to visit a monastic society on Mount Athos must obtain special permission. They must be Christians of any denomination. Visiting rules provide for dull clothes below the knees, you cannot take pictures and shoot videos, sunbathe, swim, use foul language and even talk loudly.
