Mt Athos to limit foreign pilgrimage over touristization of Holy Mountain

Pilgrims in the city of Ouranoupoli. Photo: Romfea.gr

On June 8, 2025, the Holy Community of Mount Athos announced new measures to limit the visitation of foreigners to the Holy Mountain, as reported by Romfea.

Starting from June 14, the day the new Holy Superintendent takes office, updated restrictions will come into effect. Their aim is to preserve the prayerful, hesychastic spirit of Athos, which, according to the monks, has been threatened by the mass influx of people.

As noted, the flow of pilgrims has not decreased even after the first restrictions were introduced in December 2024. According to the monks, this is facilitated by travel agencies masquerading as pilgrimage bureaus. Some of them collaborate with individual monks and monasteries, offering "pilgrimages" for significant sums.

At the meeting of the Holy Community, alarming warnings were voiced: Athos is increasingly perceived not as a place of prayer but as a religious attraction.

Foreign pilgrims will now be issued no more than 300 permits per month, while Greeks and Cypriots will be able to visit without restrictions.

An exception has been made for the three Slavic monasteries – Hilandar, Zograf, and St. Panteleimon: pilgrims from Serbia, Bulgaria, Russia, and Ukraine will still be able to visit them without restrictions.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Kinot of Athos had appealed to the Greek authorities regarding digital documents.

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