Journey to Mount Athos: A Pilgrimage of Faith, Adventure, and Unexpected Discoveries
“I woke up at 3 in the morning and walked in the dark through the forest and mountain. I picked up two sticks and thought if a jackal was going to attack me, I’d have two sticks on me,” laughs Sergiu Dronic, recalling his midnight adventure at Mount Athos.
Nestled in northern Greece lies Mount Athos, affectionately known as the “Holy Mountain.” Here, only men and male animals are permitted to tread, adding to its air of exclusivity and sacredness. Dotted across its rugged landscape are numerous monasteries, home to Orthodox monks who dedicate their lives to prayer and reflection. As visitors wander through this spiritual haven, they are enveloped by a sense of reverence and tranquillity.
A group of twelve eager travellers embarked on a pilgrimage to Mount Athos, each contributing £600 to cover expenses such as hotel reservations, transportation, and boat fees. Their journey, however, was filled with unexpected challenges from the very start.
For more than a year, Dronic dreamed of visiting Mount Athos, but something held him back. Then, during a visit to Moldova, he spoke with his cousin who served in a church. As they shared stories and prayed, Mount Athos emerged into the conversation as a suggestion. Dronic reached out to a guide, reserved a spot, and finally decided to go after a year off, putting this trip off.
Sergiu, one of the travellers, kicked off the adventure by flying from Stansted airport to Thessaloniki, a city in the north of Greece. But upon arrival, their plans hit a snag. Stormy weather rendered ferry services to Athos impossible.
Undeterred, the group rallied and sought refuge in a nearby hotel for the night, clinging to hope for a better tomorrow. With the first light of dawn, they rose early and navigated to the ferry again and their Visas ready. To get to Athos you need a visa. Only to find out that there was still no service.
Turning to taxis, they ventured to a neighbouring town desperate to get to Mount Athos. Upon arrival, they joined a queue of two to three hundred people, patiently queuing for hours in anticipation of boarding a boat. Finally, a ferry arrived but only 100 people were able to get on board.
Reflecting on the hard journey Sergiu shared, “It was quite a challenge we all wanted to go to Mount Athos even my brother and a few other guys all going there for the first time. We were praying to go there but we couldn’t go there on Monday, and we were making jokes that it was another evil from the devil making it hard for us to get there.”
Wednesday brought a glimmer of hope as they finally boarded a boat to Mount Athos.
“My neighbour warned me to bring lots of fruits and snacks for the journey to Mount Athos.” said Sergiu Dronic. Sergiu shared about his neighbour going to Mount Athos and how they had a really bad experience because some of the churches were strict. They only got to eat twice a day with a 15-minute time limit, once a gong was hit and echoed around the room signalling that you must stop eating and stand. Dronic afraid of starving brought a rucksack full of fruits as he was expecting to starve over the next few days. “When to our surprise when we got there, there was so much food, the church gave a lot of food. We were eating like kings.”
During his journey, Dronic ended up with lots of extra fruits. Though he gave away some at the church and kept a few just in case, he soon discovered that each church they visited provided plenty of food. The capital of Mount Athos had many coffee shops and restaurants too. By the end of the trip, Dronic had so many fruits that he left them at the hotel.
Before the start of fasting in Orthodox Christianity, there’s a preparatory period known as White Week. During this time, you can indulge in eggs, milk, fish, and various other foods, except for meat. This phase helps transition the body into the fasting state, where a vegan diet, devoid of both dairy and meat, is observed until Easter day marks the end of the fast.
For Dronic, timing his visit to Mount Athos during White Week felt like a stroke of luck. On the Holy Mountain, meat isn’t consumed at all. This made it easier for him to follow the fasting rules and added to his spiritual experience on Mount Athos.
Life on the Holy Mountain is a peaceful escape from the noisy world. Here, you won’t hear the roar of trucks or buses, and planes don’t cross the sky. Instead, the air is filled with the sounds of birds chirping. The forests are full of wildlife like snakes in the summer, along with bears, wolves, jackals, and boars.
On the Holy Mountain, there are no dogs — only cats wander through the streets. The people, including the monks, are calm and never in a hurry. Everyone speaks quietly and takes the time to answer questions thoughtfully. This quiet place offers a special kind of peace, where everyone and everything moves slowly and with purpose.
If you plan on visiting Mount Athos, you don’t have to pay for your hotel and get free food. You just call them and must book it in advance. Some places may charge the organiser if there are more than 15 people but if you plan to travel alone when you have free hotel and food offered. Transport such as taxis and buses you must pay. For a day £300 to £400 you would pay for a taxi hire for the day and take you to all the churches. If you are an orthodox or wish expand your knowledge on orthodoxy when this is the place for you.
Orthodox Christianity, rooted in the Greek word for “correct opinion,” holds steadfastly to the belief that its way is the right way. Unlike Catholics, Orthodox Christians don’t follow the Pope but have their own traditions. They emphasize the importance of being part of the Church to truly understand and live out the Christian faith. For them, the Church is where wisdom for daily life is found. Unlike Catholics, they believe people go straight to heaven or hell after death, skipping purgatory.
In Moldova, Sergiu grew up immersed in Orthodox traditions, attending church weekly with his religious family. After a visit to Athos, he reflected, “It strengthened my faith in God and taught me to trust Him.” This experience solidified Sergiu’s unwavering belief in God and reliance on His guidance, shaping his spiritual path.
After a two-hour hike through the forest and mountain, Sergiu and his companions reached a quaint church. “For the first time in 25 years, I listened to a liturgy, and I felt at peace,” shared Sergiu.
“I really liked that small church, so I woke up at 3 am,” Sergiu shared. “Everyone warned me about jackals and boars in the forest, but I made the decision of waking up at three am and I decided to trek in the dark. Using sticks, we found the day before, I climbed the mountain and reached the church in 40 minutes. I was only 5 minutes late. I truly cherished the experience.”
Sergiu’s trip to Mount Athos was more than just a visit — it became a soul-searching adventure. Reflecting on his experience, he realized that faith isn’t about seeing or feeling someone physically. It’s about belief. “Now I understand it’s not about if there is a man with a beard or not,” he shared. “It’s about how we see him and feel him.” Sergiu plans to return for a longer stay, wanting to soak in more prayers and reflection. “After I came from there,” he explained, “I wanted something, and they happened naturally the way I wanted it. I believe in God more now and feel closer to him.”
