Editorial photo #1867535 Human Interest
Simonopetra Monastery in Greece
Simonopetra monastery, a 13th century monastery in Mount Athos, the holy peninsula that hosts 20 monasateries with 2500 Christian Orthodox monks. The whole peninsula is a world heritage site in UNESCO list and is protected. The entrance for women is forbidden and the status of the peninsula is partly autonomus, depending on Greece. Simonopetra Monastery (Greek: Σιμωνόπετρα, literally: "Simon's Rock"), also Monastery of Simonos Petra (Greek: Μονή Σίμωνος Πέτρας), is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece. Simonopetra ranks thirteenth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. The monastery is located in the southern coast of the Athos peninsula, between the Athonite port of Dafni and Osiou Grigoriou monastery. While the southern coast of Athos is quite rugged in general, the particular site upon which the monastery is built is exceptionally harsh. It is built on top of a single huge rock, practically hanging from a cliff 330 metres over the sea. The monastery currently houses 54 monks, and the hegumen is Archimandrite Eliseus. (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto)
