Thousands of pilgrims are flocking to Mount Athos this year to celebrate the Paschal feast in the monastic republic known as the “Garden of the Virgin Mary.”
Retired General Alkiviadis Stefanis, the Civil Administrator of Mount Athos, told ERT that approximately 13,000 visitors are expected on the peninsula for Holy Week and the Resurrection of Christ.
“From Holy Monday through Holy Wednesday, the atmosphere was calm, but starting on Holy Thursday, the influx of pilgrims increased significantly. Many people choose to celebrate Easter on the Holy Mountain, and I see friends from all over Greece here,” noted Mr. Stefanis.
He highlighted two key developments that have impacted this year’s pilgrimage numbers. The first is the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has limited travel for many Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox faithful.
“This has prevented a significant number of believers from Russia and Ukraine from visiting Mount Athos. However, we are seeing an increase in pilgrims from the Russian and Ukrainian diasporas living in other parts of Europe,” he explained.
The second factor is the instability in the Middle East, which has greatly reduced the number of pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre. As a result, many of these visitors are now turning to Mount Athos for their Holy Week pilgrimage.
On average, Mount Athos receives between 170,000 and 190,000 pilgrims annually, with about one-third being foreign visitors. Among the international pilgrims, the majority are from Romania and Serbia, followed by Bulgaria.
“As turmoil and toxicity increase in the world, so too does the number of people seeking spiritual refuge on Mount Athos,” concluded Stefanis.
Source: skai.gr / Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
