Mount Athos

   Mount Athos is a very mysterious place. It is called Agio Oros in Greek which mean "Holy Mountain." Mount Athos is said to have been founded by Mary, the Mother of God herself, thus her blessing is upon it. Even if it's located on a peninsula the only way to get there is by ship which makes it a very remote and isolated place. It is governed by a religious assembly of the heads of the monasteries and has its own set of laws. It is treated as an independent entity by the Greek government. Only one hundred Christian Orthodox pilgrims are allowed to enter it everyday and only ten non-orthodox persons. The visa lasts for 3 days but nobody will drive you away even if you stay there for a couple of weeks or even months as long as you have something set up for accommodation with one of the monasteries or monks' dwellings called skiatos. Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts are mandatory but in the summer T-shits or polo shirts would do as it is very hot. Another thing, only men are allowed on the mountain.
   A picture is worth a thousand words so take a look at some pictures before I tell you some more about Agio Oros.
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This is St. Panteleimon Monastery, a Russian monastery on the mountain.