Athos Outside Athos Pilgrimage

8–15 May 2026

Earlier this month, members of the Friends took part in the “Athos Outside Athos” pilgrimage, visiting a number of remarkable monasteries, each with a connection to the Athonite tradition.

We hope that the accompanying photographs will help rekindle many happy memories of these deeply moving days.

The hesychia — the prayerful stillness — of the monasteries encouraged quiet self-reflection. Equally memorable were our conversations with the brothers and sisters of the various communities. From the depth of their spiritual life and inner experience, they shared insights not only into the practical realities of monastic life, but also into the profound spiritual struggles and joys that shape it. Their words touched each of us in different and personal ways, something reflected in the many conversations that continued among the pilgrims in the days that followed.

The monastics spoke openly of inner struggle, forgiveness, prayer, God’s grace, and the relationship between God, one’s neighbour, and oneself. They also spoke about veneration and recounted stories of miracles associated with icons in their monasteries or with the saints to whom their communities are dedicated.

In some monasteries, the radiance of the faces of the monastics was striking. An inner light seemed to shine from them, while their joy conveyed a sense of confidence, peace, and spiritual stability.

Almost everywhere we visited, we were welcomed into the archontariki, where generous hospitality awaited us: cakes, savoury pies, coffee, water, and homemade spirits. Everywhere we felt warmly received and genuinely embraced by the monastic communities.

We were also honoured to meet Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veroia, himself an Athonite monk and formerly the Greek Orthodox priest in Oxford during the mid-1970s. He offered us a gracious and generous welcome. As one of the pilgrims, Juliana Lynch, reflected afterwards:

“[He is] a lovely human being who, though of great account, humbly listened to us, heard us and answered us … He stood on the steps to wave goodbye, standing alone with the dignity and strength of one who serves, knows, and enacts.”

One particularly memorable experience was the cruise along the western coast of the Athos peninsula. From the sea we were able to glimpse several of the monasteries of the Holy Mountain from only a few hundred metres away. The sight of these ancient monasteries rising dramatically above the coastline, framed by the rugged landscape and the waters of the Aegean, was breathtaking and left a deep impression on all of us.

In addition to the monasteries, we visited several of the great Byzantine churches of Thessaloniki, as well as Aigai, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Macedon, and Pella, the glorious Macedonian capital under Philip II and the birthplace of Alexander the Great.