Topic: POLL: Have you visited Mount Athos?

[vorgos]

The news thread about Mount Athos by CBS got me thinking about how many of us have visited it.

V.

[John Ward]

I've been there once. I spent about three months there. Once I get out of the military (just a couple more years...), I plan on going back for another extended trip. I've missed it every day since I left.

[vorgos]

I've been there once. I spent about three months there. Once I get out of the military (just a couple more years...), I plan on going back for another extended trip. I've missed it every day since I left.

I went in 2009 and stayed at Iveron for two weeks. I also went to Vatopaidi with a monk who had some errands and I venerated the relics St John Chrysostom (clearly saw the uncorrupted ear) and a piece of the Belt of the Theotokos.

Truly unforgeable. Hoping to go again, maybe later this year.

V.

[John Ward]

I went in 2009 and stayed at Iveron for two weeks. I also went to Vatopaidi with a monk who had some errands and I venerated the relics St John Chrysostom (clearly saw the uncorrupted ear) and a piece of the Belt of the Theotokos.

Truly unforgeable. Hoping to go again, maybe later this year.

V.

Iveron is beautiful. If you go back, you must visit Xeropotamou and St. Andrew's Skete outside Karyes. These are the two monasteries I spent most of my time at. Xeropotamou's abbot speaks English (if I recall correctly, he used to teach at Holy Cross), which was very beneficial to me as I was considering staying on Athos. They were working on fixing up St. Andrew's Skete while I was there. As I said, those were the two places I spent most of my time at. I visited a few other monasteries, but those were my favorites.

[jaroslavkourakin]

Yes I have! I bought that passport paper twice so it counts as two times.

I think a healthy man should be able to be around women in a healthy manner. So I can't agree with places such as Athos. I don't see how it can heal an individual, if they who are there their entire lives don't come to the point where they can have women around.

[John Ward]

I need to go back for another extended visit.

[Ansgar]

Yes I have! I bought that passport paper twice so it counts as two times.

I think a healthy man should be able to be around women in a healthy manner. So I can't agree with places such as Athos. I don't see how it can heal an individual, if they who are there their entire lives don't come to the point where they can have women around.

It's not that they can't live with women around them. The Holy Mountain has allowed women on several occasions, most recently during WWII. Many monasteres, both male and female, prohibits entry for people of the opposite sex.

Personally, I have never visited Mount Athos, but I would love to do so.

[Orthodox11]

Twice last year, hope to go again this year, God willing. The first time I went for 2 weeks and spent most of my time at Hilandar and Konstamonitou, but also visited Vatopaidi, Diochieriou, Esphigmenou, Katounakia, Zographou, and a few places in Karyes. The second time I was only there for 4 days, which I spent at Xiropoutamou (the Abbot, Joseph, is very nice).

[Kerdy]

I would love to visit, but I fear I would want to stay.

[Kerdy]

Yes I have! I bought that passport paper twice so it counts as two times.

I think a healthy man should be able to be around women in a healthy manner. So I can't agree with places such as Athos. I don't see how it can heal an individual, if they who are there their entire lives don't come to the point where they can have women around.

They distract them from their purpose of being there.  Imagine doing homework with some watching television and someone else talking on the phone.  Not an easy task.  Now imagine your goal is to get as close to God as possible and some places the opposite sex right next to you.  It makes things difficult and the task is much harder and important than homework.  It has nothing to do with healthy relationships.  It has to do with you spiritual journey.

[Orthodox11]

It's not simply about avoiding temptation. Having mixed communities (and this would be the case even the only women were pilgrims) would create a very different atmosphere and thus a very different form of monasticism. You can get this in countless other monasteries. Monasticism comes in many different forms. Athonite monasticism is one such form - for some it's the most conducive to holiness, for others it isn't. There is no reason why they should change such a fundamental aspect of their way of life to please others.