Mt. Athos, June 10, 2025
Photo: romfea.gr
The Sacred Community of Mount Athos has issued new restrictions on foreign pilgrims in response to a sharp increase in visitors that threatens the contemplative nature of the autonomous monastic state.
The new measures, outlined in an official encyclical dated May 15, will take effect on June 14, coinciding with the assumption of duties by the new Holy Epistasia. The restrictions limit foreign pilgrims to 300 monthly permits, while maintaining unrestricted access for Greek and Cypriot visitors.
Special provisions have been made for the three Slavic monasteries: Hilandar, Zographou, and St. Panteleimon’s will continue to offer unrestricted access to pilgrims from Serbia, Bulgaria, and Russia and Ukraine respectively.
The Sacred Community cited the “sharp increase in the number of incoming pilgrims” as the primary reason for the new restrictions, noting that the measures are necessary to preserve Mt. Athos’ hesychastic character.
The surge in visitors has been attributed primarily to Romanian pilgrims, according to commentary from monastic authorities. This follows previous restrictive measures implemented in December 2024, which proved insufficient to manage the continuing wave of pilgrims.
The influx has raised concerns about the commercialization of Mt. Athos, with many representatives of the Holy Monasteries sounding alarm bells about potential “touristification” of the sacred peninsula. During Sacred Community sessions, officials highlighted the role of numerous “pilgrim service” agencies—effectively tourist agencies—that operate in cooperation with individual monks or monasteries, organizing pilgrimages with significant financial exchanges.
The new regulations do allow individual monasteries to admit larger numbers of pilgrims with special permits during major feasts, provided they notify the Pilgrimage Office in writing.
The new restrictions represent the Sacred Community’s latest attempt to balance its role as a pilgrimage destination with its primary mission as a center for Orthodox monasticism and contemplative spirituality.
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