On June 8, the Facebook page “Ekumenizm Religia Antixrista” spread information about the opening of a modern hotel on Mount Athos. According to the post, guests at the modern hotel on Mount Athos will have the opportunity to enjoy massage services and a restaurant, making it similar to other tourist resorts. The post also mentions that the hotel will be exclusively for men, and considering that Greece has “legalized sodomy.” it is not hard to imagine what might happen in these “men-only” restaurants.
Information about the opening of a hotel on Mount Athos is being spread without context, raising questions about the hotel’s requirement that guests must be male. In reality, women’s entry to Mount Athos has been prohibited since at least the XI century; hence, any services offered at the hotel will be intended exclusively for men. It is also worth noting that the establishment will operate under religious tourism, and the massage services will serve a therapeutic purpose rather than a recreational one.
-
The ban on women
Mount Athos, located on the Athos Peninsula in northern Greece, is an autonomous monastic republic and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is known for its strict religious traditions, including the prohibition of women’s entry to the territory and its focus on monastic asceticism. Entry to Mount Athos is strictly regulated and only allowed for men. This monastic rule, known as “Avaton,” was officially established by Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomachos in 1046, though it is believed that this tradition was observed earlier too. It is also noteworthy that Greek legislation (Article 105 of the Greek Constitution) grants Mount Athos full autonomy. This ban is strictly enforced to this day. Women are not even allowed to approach the coastline, ensuring the preservation of the unique monastic order and spiritual traditions of Mount Athos.
The ban on women’s entry to Mount Athos is explained by several reasons. One is the protection of a monastic rule – celibacy (abstinence from marriage). Since monks and novices live on Mount Athos, the prohibition on women was established to maintain their spiritual purity and to avoid sexual relations. Another reason is based on Orthodox Christian tradition, according to which the Virgin Mary, while on her way to Cyprus, accidentally arrived at Mount Athos. She liked the place so much that she prayed to God to give it to her. Therefore, Mount Athos is considered the “Garden of the Virgin,” and the only female presence allowed is that of the Virgin Mary herself.
There have been a few historical exceptions to the ban on women entering Mount Athos. During the Greek Civil War (1946 – 1949), Mount Athos granted sanctuary to peasants’ livestock. During this chaotic period, women and girls joined groups that had come to Mount Athos to retrieve livestock. In 1953, a Greek woman, Maria Poimenidou, disguised herself in men’s clothes and stayed on the mountain for three days. After this incident, Greece adopted a law that prohibits women from entering Mount Athos and sets the punishment of up to 12 months in prison for violators. More recently, in 2008, smugglers abandoned four Moldovan women near Mount Athos. They were briefly detained by the police but later “pardoned” by the monks. These cases are exceptions, and today, the law strictly forbids women’s entry to Mount Athos.
-
What do we know about the hotel?
Regarding the opening of a modern hotel in the administrative center of Mount Athos, Karyes, such an establishment was indeed created as part of the development of religious tourism. According to reports, one of the monasteries on Mount Athos transferred the building to a well-known chain. The hotel offers services such as a restaurant and massage, which are rare for the region. The cost of accommodation is 40 euros per night. However, to stay there, guests must obtain special permission and, in accordance with the long-standing traditions of Mount Athos, must be male. Since women are prohibited from entering Mount Athos, naturally, the hotel will only allow male guests, which is a matter of respecting and preserving the tradition and rules, not the result of legalizing same-sex marriage. In February 2024, a bill was passed in Greece allowing civil unions for same-sex couples. The Greek Orthodox Church categorically opposes the legalization of same-sex marriage and considers homosexuality a sin.
The information about the opening of the first hotel on Mount Athos was confirmed by Andreas Karagiannis, the chief editor of Ekklisiaonline, during his appearance on the show “Proino Sou Sou.” According to him, the hotel is part of a larger investment project, and the building, which once served as an old “samaradiko” (σαμαράδικο) (a space where equipment for transporting goods was made), has now been repurposed. The hotel is located near a well-known supermarket chain, which recently opened in the same area. Andreas Karagiannis mentioned that the hotel will include a physiotherapist, with one of the services being therapeutic massage. The massage service is intended for therapeutic rather than recreational purposes and serves the needs of monks and visitors with physical ailments. The availability of this service within the hotel will help monks receive treatment on-site without needing to leave Mount Athos.
Andreas Karagiannis: “There are abbots and monks who also have their own health issues, such as neck problems. Why should they leave Mount Athos and go to Thessaloniki or Chalkidiki to find these services?”
The inclusion of massage services and the development of the hotel have sparked debate within the monastic community and the broader public. Critics argue that this initiative contributes to the commercialization of the sacred monastic state. According to Karagiannis, a segment of the monastic community strongly opposes this initiative, collecting signatures and discussing concerns about secularization.
The article has been written in the framework of Facebook’s fact-checking program. You can read more about the restrictions that Facebook may impose based on this article via this link. You can find information about appealing or editing our assessment via this link.
Read detailed instructions for editing the article.
Read detailed appeal instructions.
