Mount Athos Details
Mount Athos in Greece or "Agion Oros" is the centre of Eastern Christian Orthodox Monasticism. Agion Oros forms a self- governed part of the Greek state.
It is subject to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its political aspect and spiritually and about the religious issues to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinopole.
Mount Athos is located in the third (the eastern) peninsula of Halkidiki. It is the only place in Greece completely dedicated to prayer and worship of God and due to this fact is referred as the "Holy mountain" or "Agion Oros".
Agio oros is divided into twenty self-governed territories. Each territory consists of a cardinal monastery and other monastic establishments that surround it.
Though land-linked, Mount Athos is accessible by ferry boat either from the port of Ouranoupoli, for those heading to west coast monasteries or from Ierrisos for the east coast ones.
The daily number of visitors entering Mount Athos is restricted and all are required to obtain a special entrance permit valid for a limited period. The permit is called adiamonētērion, a form of Byzantine visa that is written in Greek, dated using the Julian calendar, and signed by four of the secretaries of leading monasteries.
There are generally two kinds of diamonētēria: the general diamonētērion that enables the visitor to stay overnight at any one of the monasteries but only to stay in the mountain for three days, and the special diamonētērion which allows a visitor to visit only one monastery or skete but to stay as many days as he has agreed with the monks. The general diamonētērion is available upon application to the Pilgrims' Bureau in Thessaloniki. Once this has been granted it will be issued at the port of departure, on the day of departure.
Once granted, the pilgrim can contact the monastery where he would like to stay in order to reserve a bed (one night only per monastery). The ferries require reservations, both ways.
The duration of the general visa can be extended by several days by personally applying at the main office in Karyes.
We could arrange all the above and even more details of you trip . Zaliki Hotel offers a plethora of very comfortable rooms with a high level quality of service that will satisfy your every need after a trip to Mount Athos.
Free parking and Free Wi-Fi along with Free Airport Pickup in case you use Airport Makedonia (SKG) are just a proof what we offer you.
Zaliki Hotel offers and other trips to places like Meteora the "suspending from the air" ascetic monastery complex and Vergina where the tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander The Great was discovered.