This hallowed land is surrounded by an expansive mountain range and culminates in Mount Athos itself, reaching an awe-inspiring height of 2,033 m above sea level.
To demarcate its border from the rest of Greece, an imaginary line was drawn from Francocastro on the western coast to Cape Arapis on the other, passing close to the foothills of Megali Vigla.
Before the 3rd century BC, the peninsula was dotted with many Greek colonies from Chalkida and Eretria, the most important being Sani, Ouranoupolis, Thisson, Kleones, Dion, Akrathos, and Olofixos. All of these towns eventually dwindled or were completely destroyed.
The monastic state currently comprises 20 monasteries, with 17 of them being Greek – Megistis Lavras, Vatopediou, Iviron, Koutloumousiou, Agiou Pavlou, Dionissiou, Xenofontos, Stavronikita, Gregoriou, Konstamonitou, Esfigmenou, Doheariou, Karakalou, Xiropotamou, Pantokratoros, Simonos Petras, and Filotheou – and one each being Russian (Agiou Panteleiminos), Serbian (Hilandariou), and Bulgarian (Zografou). There are also 14 skites, along with numerous kellia, kalives, and kathismata.
Mount Athos is managed by the “Holy Community”, a group of representatives from the 20 monasteries. This assembly is supplemented by the participation of the Greek state through its representative in Karyes, the peninsula’s capital city.
It is headed by the “Protepistate” and four-member “Holy Epistasia” and encompasses matters related to spirituality and public order. Ultimately, these matters are overseen by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
