In accordance with a "Chryssobul"(edict) issued by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomahos, in 1060 A.D. which still remains valid, conditions for entering the territory of Mt.Athos are as follows:
The
land of Mt.Athos which forms one of the most beautiful parts of Greece,
lays before the visitor all the grandeur of nature. The landscape is varied
with small valleys and gorges, well wooded mountains intersperced with
bare and precipitous rocks and occasional views of the coastline. Mountain
scenery on one hand and the sea on the other create that essential framework
of isolation in a different, strange world chosen by the hermits for their
monastic state.
It is a community
of monks which, for more than 1000 years, has lived the daily life and
religious practice of the Byzantines. The oldest Monastery on Mt.Athos
is that of Megisti Lavra which is also the wealthiest in treasures and
relics. It was founded in the 10th century by Osios Athanassios.
However, even prior
to that date, monks and hermits had begun to retire to that area. The beneficent
activity of Byzantine emperors soon made it possible for the number of
monasteries to multiply to 40 and their inmates to 40000. At the moment,
only 20 monasteries are functioning and the total number of monks
does not exceed 1700.
Once the entrance
permit has been secured, the visitor setting out from Ouranoupolis or Tripiti
by motorship will sail to Dafni and thence overland to Karies, the capital
where the elders used to assemble to decide on matters of internal administration.
In Karies stands the church of Protatos, the oldest in the area(10th
century). It is without doubt an important architectural monument and contains
frescoes painted by Emmanuel Panselinos, the last of the great painters
of murals of the Macedonian School of Art to which the lder of the frescoes
in other churches on Mt.Athos also belong. Murals of this school of art
as well as murals of the Cretan School of Art, which flourished later,
decorate the churches in the monasteries of Agia Lavra, Vatopedi, Iviron,
Koutloumousiou, Doheiariou, etc.
As he roams through
the various monasteries, the visitor will feel impressed not only by the
frescoes but also by the rich libraries, the mosaics, the precious art
miniatures, the ecclesiastical utensils and the various relics kept in
the treasuries.