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Four-Day Mount-Athos B’
Mountain Athos is the top site to experience simultaneously the imprint of historical time together with its absolute absence. Throughout the course of history, the achievements of Greek civilization are preserved not only to maintain the knowledge of the past, nor just for esthetic reasons — they are also practiced in the daily routines of the monks, thus creating a bridge between history and the modern world.
1st day
Ouranoupoli – Skete of St. Anne – hike to the Refuge of Panagia (4,921ft)
2nd day
Hike to the summit and down – Small deck of the Skete of St. Anne – Daphne – Iveron Monastery
3rd day:
Stavronikita Monastery – Koutloumousiou Monastery – Karyes – Typikario Cell – Skete of St. Andrew the Apostle (Sarai) – Skete of Prohet Elijah
4th day
Monastery of Pantokrator –Vatopedi Monastery – Monastery of St. Panteleimon – Monastery of Xenophon – Ouranoupoli
Itineraries
OURANOUPOLI
1st day-Morning
Meet your guide in Ouranoupoli. You’ll first stop at the pilgrim’s office to get your entry permit for Mt. Athos.Skete of St. Anne
1st stop
From Ouranoupoli set sail for the small dock of the Skete of St. Anne, a sui generis skete that is in the diocese of the Monastery of Great Lavra. The skete is known for its exclusively ascetic character and for a large number of New Hosiomartyrs that lost their lives there during the Ottoman rule. You will ascent towards the kyriakon (church) and the monastery – both dedicated to St. Anne, the Mother of the Virgin. St. Anne is considered the protector of all childless couples and infants. The foot of St. Anne is kept in the skete. It was donated by Prince Serban Cantacuzino (1678-88), who also owned the cell of St. George in Provata. Also, you may pay homage to the wonderworking icon of St. Anne.Refuge of Panagia
2nd stop
Before you begin your hike towards the Refuge of Panagia, the monks will offer you a cup of Greek coffee, some tsipouro and some Turkish delight. Following the path uphill, it will soon lead you through the forest and to a flat opening, from where the view is wonderful. At an altitude of 4,921ft is the chapel/refuge of Panagia, where you’ll take a break, eat the food you’ve brought along and rest for the night. The refuge can host up to 20 people (approximately 8 hrs of hike).Skete of St. Anne (approximately 6hrs of hike)
2nd day (on foot)
On the following day, you’ll start walking on a steep well-preserved path of medium difficulty. Once you cross a rocky slope, you’ll have reached your destination, the summit of Mt. Athos at an altitude of 6,660 ft. There, the chapel dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Saviour stands, where you may pay homage to the icons it houses and pray. The summit of Mt. Athos is a holy place that every pilgrim would like to reach and stand next to the large cross while admiring the amazing infinite view. You’ll then descent carefully to the small dock of the Skete of St. Anne (approximately 6hrs of hike). From the dock you’ll set sail for Daphne.Iveron Monastery
2nd stop
Once your reach your destination, you’ll head to Iveron Monastery, which is located in the north-east side of the Athos peninsula. Here, you may pay homage to the wonderworking icon of Panagia the Portaitissa (All-holy Virgin of the Gate), one of the most famous and revered icons of the area. The icon was miraculously delivered to the monastery via sea in the early 11th century. Tradition has it that the icon used to belong to a devout widow that lived in Nice. When the iconoclasts arrived at her door and demanded that she handed it to them, the widow managed to convince them to let her keep it for another day. Meanwhile, she threw the icon in the sea. To her surprise, though, the icon rose from the water and begun to pull away until it completely vanished into the horizon. One night, many years later, the monks of Mt. Athos all of a sudden saw a beam of light. They could just barely make out that it was an icon of the Virgin approaching the shore. The Mother of God herself chose the monk worthy of pulling the icon on shore. In a rejoicing atmosphere, the icon was transferred to Iveron Monastery where it is housed until today. In the sacristy of the monastery, you may also see holy relics, gold-work embroidery vestments, the bag of the Emperor Ioannis Tsimiskis, the mantle of St. Gregory V and the will that he left. Also, a piece of the Holy Cross is kept here together with the many relics and various heirlooms that date back to the merciless Passions of Christ. Such heirlooms are pieces of the sponge, the reed, the cloak and the column, against which He was whipped. In Iveron Monastery you’ll spend the night. After the call for the Vespers, dinner follows in the Refectory and then it’s time to rest for the night.Monastery of Stavronikita
3rd day (by vehicle)
Attend the Holy Liturgy in Iveron Monastery. Have breakfast in the Refectory. Your next destination is the Monastery of Stavronikita, the smallest monastery of Mt. Athos. It is built on a rock nearby the sea. The most important heirloom you’ll see is the mosaic icon of St. Nikolaos Stridas that appears to have been found in the late 13th to the early 14th century. Tradition has it that in 1545 the icon was pulled out of the sea by fishermen. On the forehead of the saint’s portrait was a three-inch-long cut with a big oyster attached to it. When the fishermen pulled the shell away, something shocking happened! Blood started to pour out of the cut. Thus, the icon was named St. Nikolaos the Stridas, meaning St. Nicholas-of-the-Oyster. Also, the monastery houses heirlooms, such as pieces of the Holy Cross, and relics, such as those of St. John Chrysostom and the Forty Martyrs of Sebastia.Day X
Your Plan
- Transfers in Mt. Athos according to the schedule
- Marine transfer from/to Ouranoupoli
- Tour guide services
- Entry permit arrangements
A charge is needed for the entry permit to Mt. Athos.
- Eastern Orthodox Christians: 25,00€.
- Non- Orthodox Christians: 30,00€.
- Children: 10,00€.
Extra services:
- Pick-up and drop-off from/to your hotel or elsewhere
