How the hermits of the most ancient monastic community live on Mount Athos

On the Greek peninsula in the Aegean Sea stands the famous Mount Athos, which for 1,800 years has been home to the Christian religion, and where monastic communities have lived for a long time. Moreover, one of the oldest communities in the world still lives here and honors traditions that go back as much as the 9th century!

The height of the sacred mountain is 2033 meters, and this is a real treasury of the Byzantine heritage. Therefore, only faithful and pious men can get here, but women will have to admire the local beauties only from afar. Currently, the region has 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries. The monks here lead a very ascetic existence. Most of them live in monasteries, but there are those who prefer complete isolation. They retire from the world in small houses called skete.

Monasteries are located in the most inaccessible places, some altogether on steep cliffs. They have to deliver everything necessary for life in baskets suspended on ropes. Due to the great difficulties in movement, some hermits do not leave their houses for decades. So, for example, before, to get into their monastery, the monks used chains and ropes. Today, of course, the situation is already better - steep stairs have broken through the cliffs - however, climbing them is often just as difficult.

Meanwhile, the life of the monks who live together in the monasteries is much less complicated. They grow vegetables, fish, make wine, engage in wood carvings, sew clothes and do many more diverse tasks.