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Founded in the 13th century on Greece’s Mount Athos, the monastery houses monks from more than a dozen countries, including France, China, the United States, and Lebanon.
Also known as Simonopetra, or “Simon’s Rock,” the monastery is part of the autonomous, all-male monastic peninsula in northern Greece. While only Orthodox men can join the brotherhood, male visitors of other faiths are welcome.
Its abbot, Archimandrite Eliseos, says the monastery reflects a centuries-old ecumenical spirit rooted in Byzantine tradition, where shared faith transcends national borders.
