The Man Who Never Saw A Woman
The story of a monk and a mountain
Mount Athos, also known as the Holy Mountain, is home to 20 of the world’s oldest and most isolated monasteries and has been a center for monastic life since the fourth century.
Mouth Athos is constitutionally recognized as an autonomous part of northern Greece, and it is home to approximately 2000 monks of various nationalities. The Eastern Orthodox monasteries that call the mount home function as a semi-autonomous, self-governing monastic state.
If you ever wanted to visit Mount Athos, you may feel like you have stepped back in time. The monasteries in the area still use Byzantine time, in which the day begins at sunset rather than midnight. This results in a daily time zone shift. Although most of the rest of the world has switched to the Gregorian calendar established in the 16th century, the monks of Mount Athos continue to use the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind.
However, before you book your trip, double-check that you aren’t female.
In 1046, Emperor Constantine IX barred women from the mountain.
It was believed that the presence of women would have the potential to divert the monks’ attention, lure them away from practicing true celibacy, and ultimately lead them to sin.
