20 manastira Svete Gore | Halkidiki

The 20 Monasteries of Mount Athos

Mount Athos is home to exactly 20 monasteries — no more, no less. This number is enshrined in the Constitutional Charter of Mount Athos and cannot be increased or decreased. Each monastery holds a position in the hierarchy that was determined centuries ago.

Of the 20 monasteries, 17 are Greek, one is Russian (Agiou Panteleimonos), one is Serbian (Chilandariou), and one is Bulgarian (Zografou). Together they form the Holy Community, the central governing body of the Athonite State, headquartered in Karyes.

Complete Ranking

#	Monastery	Founded	Nationality
1	Μεγίστης Λαύρας 963 · Ελληνική	963	Ελληνική
2	Βατοπαιδίου 972 · Ελληνική	972	Ελληνική
3	Ιβήρων 976 · Ελληνική	976	Ελληνική
4	Χιλανδαρίου 1198 · Σερβική	1198	Σερβική
5	Διονυσίου 1375 · Ελληνική	1375	Ελληνική
6	Κουτλουμουσίου 1169 · Ελληνική	1169	Ελληνική
7	Παντοκράτορος 1363 · Ελληνική	1363	Ελληνική
8	Ξηροποτάμου 956 · Ελληνική	956	Ελληνική
9	Ζωγράφου 971 · Βουλγαρική	971	Βουλγαρική
10	Δοχειαρίου 1045 · Ελληνική	1045	Ελληνική
11	Καρακάλου 1070 · Ελληνική	1070	Ελληνική
12	Φιλοθέου 992 · Ελληνική	992	Ελληνική
13	Σίμωνος Πέτρας 1257 · Ελληνική	1257	Ελληνική
14	Αγίου Παύλου 934 · Ελληνική	934	Ελληνική
15	Σταυρονικήτα 1541 · Ελληνική	1541	Ελληνική
16	Ξενοφώντος 998 · Ελληνική	998	Ελληνική
17	Γρηγορίου 1345 · Ελληνική	1345	Ελληνική
18	Εσφιγμένου 1001 · Ελληνική	1001	Ελληνική
19	Αγίου Παντελεήμονος 1169 · Ρωσική	1169	Ρωσική
20	Κωνσταμονίτου 1080 · Ελληνική	1080	Ελληνική

Other Monastic Institutions

Besides the 20 sovereign monasteries, Mount Athos is home to many other monastic institutions that are dependent on the monasteries:

Sketes: Smaller monastic communities dependent on a monastery. There are 12 sketes, some with a communal organization and their own church.
Kellia (Cells): Individual buildings with a chapel where small groups of monks live (usually 2-6). They belong to a monastery and are granted for the lifetime of the monks.
Kalyves (Huts): Simpler monk dwellings, often without a chapel. They are grouped together to form sketes.
Hesychasteria (Hermitages): Isolated retreats for monks devoted exclusively to prayer and silence. They are found in remote locations, sometimes even in caves.