Exploring the Hospitality of Mount Athos’ Monks: Insights from Visitors Impressions

Abstract

Hospitality has played a significant role in Orthodox monasticism, driven by selfless love for fellow human beings. This article explores the impressions of visitors to Mount Athos, regarding the hospitality provided to them by the Mount Athos’ monks. The subject of hospitality for the monks is quite important because it is the beginning of love for fellow human beings. The purpose of the article is to examine the reception and hospitality of the visitors of Mount Athos by the monks and the recording of their impressions of this hospitality. It focuses on the example of the monastic community of the Athos peninsula and how the monks receive and welcome visitors. General impressions of the visitors throughout their access and stay on Mount Athos are also examined. The behavior of the monks towards the visitors is characterized as cordial and exemplary. The research focused on visitors, recording their experiences from their stay on Mount Athos and the stages of hospitality provided to them. Questionnaires to visitors after their stay on Mount Athos were used as means of collecting the research. The survey results demonstrate that the visitors’ impressions are described as special and unique. The majority of visitors were completely satisfied with the care they received in terms of accommodation, material and spiritual food. Could the hospitality of the monks of Mount Athos work as an example of hospitality for tourism? The way in which the monks of Mount Athos approach the visitor is special and unique. The use of the hospitality philosophy of the monks could enrich the hospitality of visitors in the tourism industry bringing significant results. This study contributes to the literature by enriching the understanding of hospitality practices within monastic communities.

1 Introduction and Background of Research

Mount Athos is a special peninsula and an autonomous state. It is the largest monastic community in Greece hosting a total of 1779 monks (population census 2021) [1]. The monastic life is not easy as it is a life of discipline and obedience. The monk abandons worldly life to live dedicated entirely to God. Thus, by abstaining from public life, he lives a more consistent Christian life, praying for his own salvation and that of others. Fr. Georgios Mantzaridis [2] quotes Saint Nikodimos who emphasizes that the most important characteristics of a genuine Orthodox monk are the way and love for God, which is not influenced by any material and vain things, since the monk leaves them behind him to love God without limit. Silence is the most suitable way for the mind not to be clear, to work and approach. Also, obedience is an important characteristic of a monk since the model is Christ's obedience to the Father which leads to true humility. Prayer is necessary for a monk, since it is the means, in the solitary struggle, that ensures a free mind. Moreover, work is necessary first so that the monk's reckoning does not escape and then so that the monk is not forced to go out into the world. Finally, love is of particular importance, as the Saint emphasizes: “solitary exercise without love does not save” [3]. According to William J. F. Keenan the monastic life is characterized by self-discipline, constant prayer and charity [1].

Ηospitality without “discrimination” represents the way monks act. The landscape, the religious element [3] but also the love for God attracts visitors to Mount Athos all year round. There is the institution of “Avaton”, that is, the prohibition of the entry of women into it. Only men are allowed to enter Mount Athos as according to tradition the only woman who visited Mount Athos was the Virgin Mary and that is why it is dedicated to her. The “abbot” as established is an inviolable rule and was created to ensure the purity of the monks as well as their protection in the various challenges [4].

According to William J. F. Keenan the monastic life is characterized by self-discipline, constant prayer and charity [4]. “Hospitality without discrimination” represents the way adopted by the Agioreite monks, since in the face of the guest they see Christ himself. The principle of hospitality in Orthodox life can be found in the book of the Old Testament in the chapter of “Genesis”. According to her there was a man Abraham who was chosen by God making him the leader of the nation. One day while he was resting, he saw three angels and immediately begged them to host them.

After they accepted his invitation, he offered them a rich meal and a bath. On leaving, the angels announced to him that in a year he would have a child, since he and his wife were childless and old. The hospitality of Abraham is an important example to be imitated by the Orthodox Saint Monks. The article aims to provide an impression of the experiences of Mount Athos visitors had from the hospitality they received from the Monks.

Hospitality in the monasteries of Mount Athos is done in stages and ends with the visitor's farewell. Initially, upon entering the monastery, he is greeted by the Archon, who performs the ceremony of welcoming visitors. After welcoming the guest, he offers him cold water to quench his thirst from walking, and also treats him to sweet loukumi to take the sugar from his body due to fatigue. He then treats him to a raki that helps with sweating and then offers him coffee accompanied by a cookie, so that the conversation about the history of the visitor can begin. After the guest has rested, you take him to his room to settle in and then inform him about the program and the rules that the Monastery follows. The visitor during his stay has the opportunity to participate in the sacred services, in the ministrations, i.e. in the work done by the monks to keep the monastery in order and in the common table where the food is served. Also, the guest has the opportunity to talk with the fathers and to confess to the spiritual of the Monastery. When the stay comes to an end, the visitor taking all these experiences gets a blessing to leave and leaves with all the spiritual supplies that were offered to him.

2 Methodology

The methodology followed quantitative research. Questionnaires were collected from male visitors, since the entrance to Mount Athos does not allow women, the establishment of “Avato”. For this purpose, a questionnaire was chosen with the convenience in a specific group that is easily approached and gives easy access to various data. It also gives the possibility of bulk data download from those interviewed. Primary data were collected by original research and recording which constitute field research. The questionnaire consists of twenty questions, four of which are demographic characteristics and sixteen concerning the impressions and opinions about Mount Athos and the cuisine. The results were collected and analyzed with the help of the SPSS program and the necessary comparisons were made between the questions.

3 Results and Discussion

The sample consists of 248 men who visited Mount Athos who answered closed questions regarding the impressions they received from the hospitality they received. First, the demographic characteristics of the respondents are presented, in terms of age, marital status, origin and the frequency of their visit to Mount Athos. The sample was divided into ages of which 17 people aged 15–20, which is 6.9% of the sample, 80 people from 20 to 25, which is 32.4% of the sample, 57 people aged 25–35, making up 23.1% of the sample, 47 people aged 35–49 making up 19% of the sample and 46 people aged 50 and over making up 18.6% of the sample. It is worth noting that Mount Athos attracts visitors from all age groups. 54% of the sample consists of men of Cypriot origin and 43.5% of men of Greek origin and the rest from other Orthodox countries (Serbia, Russia, Jordan).

To the question concerning the purpose of the first visit of the respondents, the majority answered that they visited Mount Athos for Pilgrimage (82%), 10% for an excursion, 6% for curiosity and 2% for work. The process of entering Mount Athos requires some steps such as booking accommodation in a monastery, issuing a document with the visitor's details and place of residence (residence), booking the boat to go to the Monasteries. From the answers of the respondents, it seems that there is a little difficulty in finding a place for the boat as only one route is scheduled per day, also sometimes due to bad weather conditions the route cannot be carried out as a result of which they cannot get out or enter visitors. There is still a small difficulty in communicating with the Monasteries for the issuance of the residence permit since there is a certain short period of time for communication. However, the majority of respondents answered that they did not encounter any problems at all in the process of entering Mount Athos (Figs. 1 and 2).

Fig. 1

Entry difficulties

Fig. 2

Aim of the first visit

The initial impressions of the visitors sailing towards the Monastery are characterized by awe and respect, peace, tranquility and admiration. The beautiful landscape in conjunction with the sunset offers the visitor unforgettable experiences. Afterwards, the visitors commented on what impressed them from the initial greeting they received from the Archontari (a monk whose job it is to greet the guests). The results showed that 10 (4%) of the respondents were impressed by the cool and clean water in the Monastery, 3 (1.2%) by the coffee offered to them, 45 (18.1%) by the handmade lokoumi, 44 (17.77%) with raki and tsipouro, 143 (57.7%) with the lord's hospitality, 2 (0.8%) with nothing and 1 (0.4%) filled in the “other” field by rose juice. It should be noted that the initial treat in the monasteries is offered to the visitor to rest him from the long journey he made to reach the Monastery. Also offer with selfless love from the monks since they follow the rules of offering to fellow man. The respondents’ satisfaction with their initial hospitality was described by the majority as completely satisfied (Fig. 3 and 4).

Fig. 3

Impressions from the first hospitality

Fig. 4

Degree of satisfaction with Hospitality

Each Monastery has its own rules and their observance is quite important for all visitors. It seems that a small number of respondents found it difficult to change the time since on Mount Athos they use the “Byzantine Time” midnight is sunset and noon is sunrise. Also, some found difficulty with the limited meals since you only offer food twice a day and at a specific time. The results show that 47 (19%) of the respondents encountered difficulty in changing the time, 3 (1.2%) of the respondents had difficulty in helping with the services, 29 (11.7%) in limiting meals, 21 (8.5%) in the duration and number of sequences, 9 (3.6%) in following many rules, 1 (0.4%) in waking up in the morning, while 138 (55.6%) stated that they had no difficulty with anything from all these. However, the impressions recorded by the guests regarding the process of the common meal (table) are characterized by wonder and awe. The reading while eating is what impressed the majority of respondents because this is how you offer both material and spiritual food. The results show that 93 (37.5%) of the respondents stated that they were impressed by the reading while eating, 22 (89%) of the respondents were impressed with the arrangement of the tables, 25 (10.1%) of the respondents with the common prayer before and after the meal, 64 (25.8%) with the ringing of the bell by the Abbot for the stages of the meal, 21 (8.5%) of the respondents were impressed with the laying of the Bank and 23 (9.3%) were not impressed with any of the above (Figs. 5 and 6).

Fig. 5

Difficulties in the program

Fig. 6

Degree of satisfaction with hospitality

The Mount Athos cuisine is characterized by the best cuisines combining love and pure ingredients. The blessed Monk Elder Epiphanios was the one who highlighted this way of cooking since it combines patience, slow cooking and fresh ingredients. The majority regarding the food answered that they did not find any difficulty in the food regarding the intake of meat, special flavors and small portions. The results showed that 19 (7.7%) of the respondents encountered difficulty in the lack of meat, 16 (6.5%) of the respondents had difficulty because they encountered special recipes, 3 (1.2%) of the respondents had difficulty in the time that had to eat, 13 (5.2%) in that the portions were small and 197 (79.4%) in none of the above. Absolute satisfaction with the food was characterized by all respondents.

Visitors described their impressions of the hospitality they received and evaluated the quality of their accommodation and food. The results showed the pleasure of the majority of the sample of visitors with the accommodation and the hospitality they received. As literature has shown the Mount Athos cuisine is very special because the food contains fresh ingredients and pure love who become from God love. The food and hospitality on Mount Athos leave unforgettable experiences for visitors that will remain with them forever. On the one hand, the beauty of nature and the tranquility, and on the other hand, the unique flavors of the cuisine and hospitality are something unique for the visitor [12].

4 Conclusions

The hospitality of the Saint Monks is characterized by selfless love and giving. In fact, it occupies a dominant position in the hearts of the monks since in the eyes of the visitors they see Christ himself. The results show that the nobleman’s behavior and reception is what made the most impression on the respondents, since the welcome is done with love towards the guests and with a lot of care. After all, the Mount Athos hospitality is visible from the beginning, as soon as the visitor enters the Monastery. The vast majority of respondents claimed that they were completely satisfied with the hospitality they received from “Archontaris”. Subsequently, a large portion of the respondents answered that they did not find any difficulty in the program of the monastery, since the portion that answered had visited Mount Athos several times. Mount Athos receives daily visits from people who arrive to live unique experiences. The way of reception and hospitality could be used as an example by those involved in tourism bringing good results. The combination of respect and love for the guest is the key to success. What has been mentioned above, are interesting facts about Mount Athos and hospitality. Future research could focus on adapting the Monks’ hospitality philosophy to the tourism industry.