HOW TO VISIT THE MONASTERY HILANDAR

 

When You have arrived at Thessaloniki, Greece, first of all visit the consulate that represents the country which has issued Your passport ¹. There You must ask for a document showing that You wish to go to Athos.

Once done, visit the Ministry of Northern Greece, (Ministry for Macedoni & Thrace ) where Mrs Pleso is in charge of the entry permits. The address is:

The Ministry of Northern Greece (Ministry for Macedonia & Thrace )

Directorate of Civil Affairs

Diiktiriou Square

Thessaloniki

Mrs Pleso is in Room 222; phone *30-31-257 030; fax *30-31-268 488.

When You have been granted permission to continue to Uranopolis or Jerisos, go there to acquire the visa to enter the Republic of the Monks. Now You are able to visit the holiest place of the Serbs, the monastery Hilandar, which was founded by Stefana and Rastka Nemanjica, or more familiar St Simeona and St Savu.

The monks in the monastery, about twenty in total, will try to aid the visitors, but have their daily chores to attend to. Visitors are allowed to participate in their labour. Food and lodging are free of charge, but anycontribution is gratefully accepted. The existence of the monastery is dependant of what can be produced there and of gifts.

Once there, there is much to be seen. For more than 800 years, the monks have collected Serbian cultural treasures in the form of literature, arts and history describing the culture and the religion of the Serbian people.

The address of the monastery:

Monastery Hilandar

630 86 Kayres

Mount Atos

Greece

Phone: *30-0377-23797

The monastery’s representative in Thessaloniki is available at:

*30-031-228160.

¹ You will find the Swedish Consulate at Komnion 26, 6th floor, and

the Jugoslavian Consulate at Komnion 4.

 

E-mail: Alexander.Polic@mailbox.swipnet.se