Having reached the end of my account of the pilgrimage, it is finally time to share some of my reflections. The pilgrimage experience was a very humbling one, very symbolic of one’s sojourn o…| Inclina aurem cordis tui
On July 8, 2025, unknown individuals left a threatening letter on the outer door of the guesthouse (konaki) of the Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou in Karyes, Mount Athos, just 100 meters from the Police Directorate, the Holy Community building, and the Civil Administration building. Beyond insults directed at the Ecumenical…| Orthodox Times (en)
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will pay an official visit to Mount Athos on Friday and Saturday, July 4–5. During his stay, the Prime Minister will visit Karyes, the administrative center of the monastic community, where he will meet with the abbots and representatives of the 20 Holy Monasteries, as…| Orthodox Times (en)
“With order and Athonite solemnity,” as the monks describe it, the change of the Holy Administration of Mount Athos took place earlier this morning, Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Protaton Church in Karyes. The outgoing Chief Administrator, Symeon from Dionysiou Monastery, formally passed the responsibilities to Elder Abraham from…| Orthodox Times (en)
I woke up a bit before 3AM, to the sound of the semantron, and eventually made my way down to church for the Office, which lasted until around 5AM. I then went back to my room to rest a little until it was time to leave. Upon entering the room, however, I saw a certain…| Inclina aurem cordis tui
I stopped just outside the gates of Pantokratoros and surveyed the landscape, my eyes following the road I had taken just the day before. Only the road was all downhill the previous day; now, I had…| Inclina aurem cordis tui
I wandered into the cloister, not sure exactly where I was going, but knowing that I needed to find the guest house. A monk and some pilgrims were speaking in front of the catholicon; the monk greeted me and told me to make my way to the guest house. I wandered around for a bit…| Inclina aurem cordis tui
I had noticed that we had passed the monastery of Iviron on the way to Philotheou the previous day, so I decided to use it as a gauge for the hike. My mobile’s GPS said that it would take me …| Inclina aurem cordis tui
I followed the others through the cloister, then up some stairs past an elaborate wooden door (which I later discovered was the refectory) and into the large building which served as the pilgrims’ quarters. While a small, elderly monk with a large white beard attended to the Greeks, I was approached by a young monk.…| Inclina aurem cordis tui
The van started off for Karyes on a road that followed the coast for a bit. The road was hardly paved, though there was some construction work going on; still, stones and debris littered the road, …| Inclina aurem cordis tui
I arose early the following morning, as I was unsure how long it would take to sort out my diamonitirion and ferry ticket. I exited the hotel and was greeted by a clear blue sky and the warm sun. Much to my surprise, the town which had just the previous day been nearly deserted was…| Inclina aurem cordis tui
I have returned home safely from my long desired pilgrimage to Mount Athos. As promised, I will write an account of what I did and saw. I will be breaking this account into two main parts: the firs…| Inclina aurem cordis tui
