Shopping Cart
The Sketes of Mt. Athos
Besides the 20 monasteries which have been administratively classified into 5 groups, with numbers ranging from 1 to 20, Mt. Athos is also rich with monk dwellings.
In the administrative classification, sketes and numerous cells come after the 20 monasteries. The hierarchy, originating from the 16th century, hasn't been altered to the present day.
A while ago, Mt. Athos had several dozens of sketes. Nowadays, there are barely ten sketes, some of which can barely survive.
Here is the list of the Sketes of the Holy Mountain of Athos:
ST. ELIJAH SKETE - ST. ANDREW SKETE - SAINT ANNE SKETE AND LITTLE ST. ANNE SKETE
KAFSOKALYVIA SKETE - ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST SKETE - ST. DEMETRIUS SKETE - THE NEW SKETE
LAKKOU SKETE - ANNUNCIATION OF THEOTOKOS SKETE
The majority of sketes and cells are located in the region surrounding Athos, which is commonly referred to as the Mt. Athos desert. Each cell, cabin and cave is inhabited by ascetics or simply - hermits, as they are mostly referred to.
They eat very little, sleep even less and spend their days repeating the Christ's prayer indefinitely:
"Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner. "