"Here one is closer to God, and better understands creation," says Father Spyridon, who's spent more than 50 years at the monastery as a monk. "All of mother nature is God's creation.

Simonopetra, or the Simonos Petra Monastery, home of the all-male autonomous community Agion Oros, or Holy Mountain, stands on the peninsula of Mount Athos in northern Greece, Sunday, April 13, 2025.

The monastery is one of 20 in the autonomous all-male monastic community of Mount Athos, known in Greek as Agion Oros, or Holy Mountain. (AP video by Srdjan Nedeljkovic.

The monastery welcomes anyone who would like to visit — provided they are male. In a more than 1,000-year-old tradition, women are banned from the entire peninsula, which is deemed the Virgin ...

FILE – Monks carry baskets of supplies to the Simonopetra, or Simonos Petra Monastery, home of the all-male autonomous community of Agion Oros, or Holy Mountain, on the peninsula of Mount Athos ...

“Here one is closer to God, and better understands creation,” says Father Spyridon, who’s spent more than 50 years at the monastery as a monk. “All of mother nature is God’s creation.

Photo Gallery: From Greek monastery on island cliffside, prayer lift up wonders of the night sky The Associated Press April 11, 2025, 6:53 PM ...

In this picture with a slow shutter speed is seen the cliffside Hozoviotissa Monastery under the starry night sky on the island of Amorgos, Greece, Thursday, March 27 , 2025. (AP Photo/Petros ...