Athon is the largest center of Orthodox monasticism in the world, and women have been prohibited from entering its territory for over a thousand years. This is not discrimination, but a special tradition based on religious principles and historical decrees. Why the Ban Exists The ban on women visiting Athon has two main reasons closely linked to each other. The Mother of God's удел: according to tradition, the ship on which the Mother of God was sailing caught a storm and landed on the shore of Athon. Struck by the beauty of these places, she asked God to make Athon her earthly удел. Since then, the Holy Mountain has been considered the garden of the Mother of God, and only she represents her sex on this land. Preservation of the monastic struggle: Athon is a place of special prayerful seclusion for male monks. The presence of women, according to the monks of Athon, may distract them from spiritual life and create temptations. Therefore, the ban is intended to preserve a special form of monastic life, not to violate anyone's rights. History and Laws The ban was not an instantaneous decision, but formed over centuries. In the eleventh century, the tradition was officially established in 1405 by an edict of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos. It was also forbidden at that time to be present on the peninsula and domestic animals of female gender. In modern times, in 1953, a law was adopted in Greece according to which a woman who consciously violated the ban and entered Athon could be subject to imprisonment for a term of two to twelve months. Women are also prohibited from approaching the coast of Athon closer than five hundred meters. Attempts to abolish: when Greece joined the European Union, the European Parliament tried to challenge this ban, but without success. Formally, Athon is private property of monasteries, which allows it to maintain its special status. How Women Can Touch the Shrines Although direct access is closed, women still have the o ... Read more