Feast of the Holy Cross on Mount Athos, 4 Days Spiritual Pilgrimage
Next Pilgrimage: 26-29 September 2024
Timeless spiritual practices
The Feast of the Holy Cross on Mount Athos is a momentous occasion in the Christian Faith, celebrated with great reverence and devotion by the monks, pilgrims, and visitors to this holy peninsula. It commemorates the finding of the Holy Cross by Saint Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, in the 4th century.
The Celebration of the Holy Cross begins with a sense of anticipation and solemnity, as the faithful gather for the feast. Pilgrims, both devout Orthodox Christians and curious visitors, come to witness and partake in this spiritual event, making their way to the sacred grounds of Mount Athos.
- Ouranoupoli port, Monasteries of Grigoriou, Simononopetra and XiropotamouDay 1
- Karies and other MonasteriesDay 2
- Monasteries of Panteleimonos and XenofontosDay 3
- Dochiariou MonasteryDay 4
Ouranoupoli – Agion Oros
Μorning embarkation (08:00) to the speedboat to enter the restricted area of Agion Oros from Ouranoupoli port. The boat will take us to Grigoriou Monastery. Visit of the monastery and then we hike for 1,5 hour (300m ascent) we will arrive to Simononopetra Monastery the most impressive monastery of the Athonian State, built on a sheer granite rock. Visit the monastery and transfer by minivan to Xiropotamou Monastery for overnight and the evening celebrations of the Holy Cross.
Karies and other Monasteries
After the morning mass transfer by minivan to the administrative center of Agion Oros, Karies. Visit of the Monastery of Koutloumousi, the Protaton church (The first church built in the Athonian State ay 960AD where the most important icon of Greek Orthodox religion is located named Axion Esti). We continue our hike about 2 hours downhill to the impressive Monastery of Iviron. We visit of the monastery and then follow an easy coastal path along the north side of Agion Oros for 1,5 hour to Stavronikita Monastery built literally on top of the sea. Visit of the monastery with the impressive murals and we will continue for another 1 hour to our final destination, Pantokratoros Monastery, where we will spend the night.
Panteleimonos and Xenofontos Monasteries
After the morning mass transfer by minivan to the south side of the peninsula. After one hour with very easy pace mostly downhill we will arrive to Panteleimonos Monastery, known as the Russian Monastery. Visit of the monastery and then we follow a dirt road for another 1,5 hour to our final destination the Xenofontos Monastery. Overnight in Xenofontos Monastery.
Dochiariou Monastery
After the morning mass we will visit the Dochiariou Monastery which involves only half an hour walking. In the afternoon we will embark to our ferry towards the exit of Agion Oros to Ouranoupoli. Expected arrival time in Ouranoupoli at 14:30. End of services.
Scheduled Pilgrimages
- 26-29 September 2024
Prices
- 1 person980€ per person
- 2-3 paxDiscount 5%
- 4-8 paxDiscount 10%
- Bookings must be made two months in advance
- Access to Mount Athos is restricted to males only, and females are strictly prohibited from entering the area.
Included
- English speaking Tour Guide/Pilgrimage Expert
- Permit
- Entrance fees
- Guiding in the trails
- All transfers in Agion Oros (boat, minivan)
- Two times communal food in the monasteries
- Shared accommodation (only for our group)with shared facilities in monasteries
Not Included
- Arrival in Ouranoupoli
- Extra expenses due to adverse weather conditions*
- *Although Agion Oros is a peninsula, is only accessed by sea. No regular land crossings of vehicles are permitted. Sometimes due to adverse weather conditions the port authorities issue a prohibitive departure of the maritime transport services.