© 2004 The Friends of Mount Athos
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On this Travel Advisories page FoMA attempts to keep you up to date on
developments that may affect your planning for visits to Mount Athos. This
service depends on the contributions of members of the Friends of Mount
Athos. All members of FoMA are encouraged, following their visits to the
Holy Mountain, to contribute updates and other information to help their
fellow travellers. Contributions may be submitted to the web site manager; alternatively, see
below, Responses.
List of Advisories for Pilgrims
(current advisories at the top; Footpaths
advisories updated yearly)
One of our members has pointed out that it is now necessary to reserve a passage on the boat from Ouranopolis to Daphne (and back again). Reservations can be made by telephone or fax to the ticket office: 023770 71149 (fax 71016).
Hieromonk Myron representing the Monastery of Simonos Petras advises us of
travel restrictions to that monastery, as follows:
"We regret to inform you that the Monastery will not be granting hospitality
to all visitors from 15th August 2006 till the beginning of 2007, due to extended
restoration work in various living quarters. Thank you for your kind understanding."
Many thanks to new FoMA member, Cristian Diakonou, for bringing this to our attentiton.
The following 2 reports were submitted by FoMA member, Travis Lee Clark, September,
2005.
Docheirou Monastery has been listed as closed due to construction
indefinitely, though several people got off the ferry there, so I'm not certain
how strictly that is being enforced.
Xenophon Monastery will not be accepting guests through the
19th of the month [September] but will apparently after that.
On March 4, 2004, Chilandar Monastery was devastated by a fire that swept through
a large section of the Monastery, destroying, among other things, the guest quarters.
Consequently, the monastery is unable to receive pilgrims for overnight stays.
Nevertheless, pilgrims are welcome to visit the monastery during the day. Anyone wishing to
do so, however, should plan ahead. Because the monastery is located at the far Northeastern
end of the Athonite Peninsula, it is difficult to get to another monastery for the night after spending a few hours at Chilandar.
Visitors will need to arrange in advance for vehicular transportation
from the monastery to other places where they can obtain lodging for the night.
For reportage on the fire, please visit the FoMA News and Announcements pages
Pilgrims to the Holy Mountain are advised to plan their itineraries ahead
and make reservations with the individual monasteries (preferably by
writing to the monasteries well in advance to allow time for confirmation
from the monastery to reach you. But see also our Athos Telephone Directory). The Pilgrim's Bureau in Ouranoupolis where diamonitiria are issued is currently
providing each visitor with a list of seven monasteries which now refuse
to accept guests unless advance reservations have been made. Moreover,
many other monasteries are also refusing guests at the door because of the
unprecedented number of visitors and over-filled guest quarters.
The notice being issued in Ouranoupolis reads as follows:
-
___________________________________________________________
NOTICE
Pilgrims who wish to stay overnight at the following holy
monasteries must beforehand reserve a place. Those who
have not, will not be accepted.
H. M. Vatopaidi TEL 23219 10:00-13:00
H. M. Iviron TEL 23643 12:00-14:00
H. M. Karakallou TEL 23225
H. M. Xenofontos TEL 23249
H. M. Xiropotamou TEL 23251 12:00-14:00
H. M. Simonos Petra TEL 23254 13:00-15:00
H. M. Stavronokita TEL 23255 13:00-15:00
We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
____________________________________________________________
Access codes for the above numbers from the US and the UK:
From the U.K.: 00-30-31
From the U.S.A.: 011-30-31
Return to List of Advisories
FoMA member Pierre Ruel (Geneva, Switzerland) reporting on his September,
2002 visit writes:
-
We were told at the Thessaloniki Office that we could go without
reservation to the Roussikon for our first night on Athos and sleep
there without any problem. It's absolutely wrong. Brother Serge at Aghios
Panteleimon was rather angry to notice that the people in Thessaloniki
continue giving wrong indications. The explanation is: There are in
Russia hundreds of Orthodox Russians queuing for a visit to the
Roussikon and the monastery must give priority to their compatriots and
co-religionists. It's absolutely normal, isn't it?
We agree, and Pierre's understanding toward the plight of the
monasteries even when it created difficulties for him is a wonderful model for
us all.
Return to List of Advisories
- 2004. An October, 2004 FoMA Pilgrim reports this update from the earlier,
2002 report of Pierre Ruel (below):
- There is a bank in Karyes right across from the Protaton. There, one can both exchange and withdraw money.
-
2002. FoMA member Pierre Ruel (Geneva, Switzerland) reporting on his September,
2002 visit writes:
-
I went to the Holy Mountay last September and I was very impressed. Here
some information which can be useful to the next pilgrims:
A. The standard duration of the stay is definitely 4 days/3 nights (but
we found it very easy to get an extension of our stay)
B. The currency is of course the Euro.
There are no cash dispensers but some businesses in Karyes accept credit
cards.
FoMA: The usual length of stay is 4 nights, not three. but when things get
crowded, you may have to accept this shorter length. It is encouraging
that the fathers continue to be generous in extending the length of stay
for those who want to do so.
Return to List of Advisories
See also Mount Athos Footpaths and their Condition (chart compiled by John Arnell)
- 2004. A FoMA pilgrim in October 2004 reports as follows:
-
Concerning the gentleman's posting of minibus prices [refering to the 2002 report of Pierre Ruel] ... The most I had to pay was going to Lavra from Karyes, and that was only 8 euro by taxi boat from the arsenas of Iviron to the arsenas of M. Lavra; I returned by "mini bus" for only 6 euro. Also, I'm not sure about the drive from Daphne for Simonopetra, but I was given free transportation from Simonopetra to Daphne using the monastery's own bus.
- 2002. FoMA member Pierre Ruel (Geneva, Switzerland) reporting on his September,
2002 visit writes:
-
The only regular bus line is, as you know, between Daphni and Karyes but
there are plenty of Mercedes "charter" minibuses (often conducted by monks,
who are fabulous drivers if you see what sort of "roads" they travel
!). Alas, many beautiful paths were "destroyed" by the bulldozers for
the minibuses to ride. The fares are much more expensive than on the
regular Daphni-Karyes line. But if rain pours or feet pain, one would be happy to
have a ride. We found it very convenient to take a bus to and from the
Grand Lavra (from Karyes), since our stay was limited to 5 days.
To give you an idea of the density of the "lines" and of the fares, I
copied the table at the Karyes office. But don't rent an outsider's car;
you would be "carried" like potatoes in an awful, old, small and dirty truck
of a fish or vegetables trader, and pay just as much as for a comfortable
trip in a Mercedes minibus. Here aren the fares (for the whole car, whith one
to 13 passengers)
-
Fares in Euros From Karyes to:
Iviron 21 Euros
Philotheou 36
Karakallou 36
Megisti Lavra 65
Stavronikita 21
Pantokrator 23
Vatopedi 39
Xiropotamou 26
Roussikon 45
Xenophontos 45
Dochiariou 52
Kostamonitou 52
Daphni 36
(I forgot the fare on the regular line,
but it's something like 5 Euros !)
Simonos Petras 52
Saint Paul 78
Lakkoskiti 78
Sk. Prodromou
Return to List of Advisories
Visitors to the Holy Mountain should be prepared for noise and
bustle. There is much construction and restoration work in progress on
the Holy Mountain. FOMA member Lewis Wright sent us this report
following his 1998 visit:
-
I have recently returned from my fifth period on Mount
Athos. What a change there has been over eleven years. On my
first two pilgrimages in 1987 and 1988 the daily boat from
Ouranoupolis was small and carried only about 30 to 35 men and
perhaps one small jeep or truck. In 1997 and 1998 the boats have
been gigantic, often carrying six large trucks and as many as
400-500 men.... The Mountain in the past was called by some a
"mountain of silence." This is far from the present state. In
1987 I regretted having to go back to the busy and noisy
Ouranoupolis. In 1997 and 1998 it was a relief to get back
to Ouranoupolis where there was relative quiet and peace.
Return to List of Advisories
Responses to the Friends of Mount Athos may be sent by e-mail to
- Prof. Robert W. Allison,
Nembership Secretary for the Americas and Web Site Manager
Responses may also be sent by post, addressed to:
-
Dr. Graham Speake
Ironstone Farmhouse, Milton, Banbury
OX15 4HH England
(fax: 01295-721445; from the U.S.A.: 011-44-1295-721445)
-
or:
-
Robert W. Allison
Dept. of Philosophy and Religion
Bates College
73-75 Campus Avenue
Lewiston, Maine, 04240 U.S.A.
(fax: 207-786-6123)
Return to FoMA Home Page
Maintained for the Friends of Mount Athos by
Robert W. Allison
Nembership Secretary for the Americas, The Friends of Mount Athos
Dept. of Philosophy & Religion, Bates College
Lewiston, Maine 04240
http://www.athosfriends.org/advisories.html