From October 15-19, 2013, His All-Holiness traveled to the historic monastic peninsula of Mount Athos, also known as the Holy Mountain, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its independence and incorporation into the Greek state. The Patriarchal delegation included Metropolitans Gennadios of Italy and Germanos of Tranoupolis, as well as the Grand Archdeacon Maximos, the Second Patriarchal Deacon Andreas, and the V. Rev. Grand Preacher Bessarion. The Ecumenical Patriarch visited the peninsula’s capital Karyes, the monasteries of St. Panteleimon and Koutloumousiou, and the Athonite Ecclesiastical Academy founded in 1749 under the tenure of Ecumenical Patriarch Cyril V.

photos by Nikos Manginas