"Let this place be your inheritance, and your garden, and paradise,and the dock of salvation, desiring to be saved, ”said the Lord in response to the request of the Blessed Virgin Mary to bestow Mount Athos on her. Since then, this mountain has received the status of the Holy Mountain at the request of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to legend, it happened in the year 49, since then no woman has visited this blessed place. So the Mother of God commanded, guarding the peace and tranquility of the monks who had dedicated themselves to the Lord.
Earthly lot of the Mother of God
Гора Афон является полуостровом в Восточной Greece, towering more than 2000 meters above sea level. The population of the Holy Mountain is a monastic community. All the monasteries of St. Athos are hostile, only about one and a half thousand monks live on the Hill. Almost the entire peninsula is covered with rich and lush vegetation. The beauty of the place is striking with its primeval power, it is believed that because of the greatness of the local beauties the Most Pure Virgin marked this place.
The oldest cloister of the blessed place
Древняя и самая большая обитель расположена на southeastern part of the peninsula: The Great Lavra was founded in the tenth century and is located at the very foot of the summit. The founder of the monastery is St.. Afanasy Athos, Lavra occupies a dominant place in the hierarchy of "monasteries of Athos." The Holy Mountain has two dozen cloisters, three of them were founded in the first millennium. In the tenth century of sv. John Iversky was founded a monastery, named after the Virgin of Iver. In the northeastern part of the peninsula, right above the sea, stands the majestic Vatoped monastery, founded around 980. It was founded by three holy elders who arrived on the island to live the monastic life of St.. Athanasius Monastery Vatopedi refers to the second stage in the hierarchy of "monasteries of Athos." Greece included Athos on the UNESCO World Heritage List, after which religious interest in the ancient monasteries increased significantly.
The new millennium - new abodes
The beginning of the second millennium on Mount Athoswas marked by the emergence of new monastic abodes in this holy place. In the second century of the second millennium, the Serbian king and son arrived in Athos and were tonsured, this was the basis for the emergence of a new monastery, known as Hilandar (Serbian). The place of origin of the monastery is notable for its picturesque vegetation and a small distance from the sea (about 4 kilometers). The main icon of the monastery is the icon of the Mother of God "Three-armed", there are on the territory of the monastery and other Orthodox shrines. According to the history of the peninsula, around the same time, another monastery of the monastic community, Mount Athos, began its history. Kutlumush Monastery was founded by an Arab who converted to Christianity, therefore it is considered Arabic. This place is famous for its holy relics and vestments, there are also many wonderful icons in it.
The smallest holy cloister and monastery of the "zealous"
From the depths of time at the turn of the first and secondFor thousands of years, the smallest abode of Mount Athos has its history. The monastery of Stavronikita was founded by the officer Nikifor Nikita, this small monastery is famous for its great value - the icon of St. Nicholas, dating back to the 13-14 centuries. Those who want to get to Stavronikita should be guided to the eastern part of the peninsula. In the same part of Mount Athos, pilgrims will be able to visit a unique monastery that does not have canonical communion with other monasteries of the peninsula. This so-called abode of the "zealots" or the monastery of Esfigmen. It has been leading its history since the tenth century; it has gone through many disasters and fires. This monastery holds many holy relics.
Wonders of the Bulgarian Convent
Западная часть полуострова встретит паломников silence, prayer pause and pier of the Bulgarian monastery Zograf. Since the beginning of the tenth century, the holy abode has led its history, as well as several other shrines of Mount Athos. The monastery of Zograf was founded by three brothers of the royal family from Orchida of Bulgaria. According to legend, the brothers waited a sign from the Almighty for a long time in order to understand in honor of which saint to name the monastery. And the sign came: the face of the Great Martyr George appeared on the board. More than once in the holy monastery recorded cases of the miraculous manifestation of God's mercy. In the 13th century, one praying elder heard a warning about the impending disaster, followed by the icon of the Mother of God "Forerunner" came to the monastery, carried by angels. Some time later, the remaining 26 monks in the temple were burned with lithiums, one icon survived. A year later, during the dirge on the ashes, 26 rays of light descended from the sky.
Greek monasteries on the Holy Mountain
Pilgrims, following from the Bulgarian monastery,after two and a half kilometers will fall into the Greek abode Konstamonit. The legend says that the founder of the monastery was the emperor Constantine the Great himself. Konstamonit was originally conceived as a small monastery for Greeks wishing to convert to the Christian faith. Repeatedly in the monastery there were recorded cases of wonderful Divine mercy, which Mount Athos is famous for. Konstamonit Monastery will offer pilgrims to pray at the three miraculous icons: Portaitissa, The Image of St. Stephen, the Mother of God Antiphonetria. The monks testify that once, on the feast of St. Stephen, a monk was concerned about the lack of oil in the monastery. In response to his anxiety, a jug filled with oil under the icon of Antiphonetry was filled with oil. This jug monks with special pleasure to show visitors.
Part of the history of the Russian Orthodox Church in the history of Athos monasticism
The close relationship of Russian Orthodoxy with Athonitemonasticism can be traced from the 11th century: near the monastery, Esfigmen was tonsured by the Russian monk Anthony, the future founder of monasticism in Russia and the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. At various times, many Russian devotees began their Orthodox journey in this blessed place, choosing the monasteries of Athos as their starting point in Orthodoxy. Holy Mountain also sheltered the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon or Old Rusik. The history also points to the Russian monasteries: Xilurga and the monastery of the holy prophet Elias. However, for disobedience, the Russian monks in the 90s were deprived of Greek citizenship and expelled from the holy monasteries of Mount Athos. The monastery of St. Panteleimon today is inhabited by Greek monks.
Brave monastery on the Holy Mountain
The testimony of God's grace is elevated tothe very top of the mountain is the Simonaphtra monastery or the rock of Simon. The monastery was named after its founder, Saint Simon, who followed the vision that appeared to him in a dream. This monastery on Mount Athos amazes pilgrims with courage and strength of construction and principles of holiness. The great heritage, which the monastery is rightly proud of, is the right hand of Mary Magdalene, who has not been subject to decay for more than two thousand years, while it remains warm, like the hand of a living person.
The abode of monks from different countries
Северо-восточная часть полуострова встретит pilgrims of lush chestnut greens and the monastery of Philotheos, one of the most ancient shrines of Mount Athos. The monastery sheltered monks from different countries: Russians, Greeks, Canadians, Romanians, Germans. The monastery has many shrines, the main of which are two miraculous icons: two-sided - the Mother of God "Sweet kissing" and "Gracious", which itself came to the temple and determined its place. Pilgrims will be able to contemplate in this monastery also the Particle of the Holy Cross, the imperishable right hand of John Chrysostom, pray and ask for healing at the foot of Panteleimon the Healer.
