Surge in pilgrim numbers recorded on Mount Athos, administrator says

Simonopetra Monastery on Mount Athos. Photo: iStockphoto

On April 22, 2026, officials on Mount Athos reported a sharp increase in pilgrim numbers against the backdrop of wars and global instability, Orthodox Times reports, citing an interview by the Athonite administrator with the newspaper Orthodoxi Alitheia.

Civil administrator of Mount Athos Alkiviadis Stefanis said that “there are about 1,000 to 1,500 visitors, while there are periods when more than 7,500 people enter Mount Athos weekly.”

According to him, “both the monasteries and the monks are reaching their limits, while the road network is also under strain.” He added that “there have been numerous requests submitted to the Hellenic Ministry of Maritime Affairs for additional routes to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims.”

Stefanis noted that “the issue of the rising number of visitors first emerged following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022,” and intensified further in 2025 amid the conflict in the Middle East.

The Athonite administrator emphasized that the general insecurity and anxiety that have prevailed globally in recent months have also played a role. "People believe they will find answers to their existential concerns in the atmosphere of peace and contemplation that characterizes the Athonite peninsula,” he followed.

In this regard, he said that it is necessary to submit applications for visits at least two months in advance, especially during major church feasts, in order to maintain order and ensure the capacity to receive pilgrims.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a procession with the “Axion Estin” icon took place at the Athonite monastery of Koutloumousiou.

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