Agiou Pavlou monastery Religious Site

Agiou Pavlou Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos, Greece, and is one of the twenty ruling monasteries of the Athonite monastic community. It is commonly referred to in English as the Monastery of Saint Paul.

The complex includes the main church (catholicon), monks’ cells, a refectory and collections of icons and ecclesiastical objects that pilgrims and visitors view during permitted visits. The site retains typical Athonite architecture with fortified walls and a harbor-facing position on the peninsula.

The monastery was established as part of the Mount Athos monastic network in the medieval period and has been continuously inhabited by Orthodox monks since its foundation. Over the centuries it has undergone repairs and restorations common to Athonite houses.

The monastery sits on the Mount Athos peninsula in northern Greece within the Monastic Community of Mount Athos. Boat access is required from the mainland port that serves the Athos monasteries; entry is subject to the monastic state’s permit system and gender restrictions.

• Access: Access to the monastery is controlled by the Mount Athos monastic state; only men with a special permit (diamonitirion) may enter.
• Status: Agiou Pavlou is one of the twenty ruling monasteries of the Athonite community.

Mount Athos is reached by boat from Ouranoupolis or Dafni; visitors must obtain a diamonitirion (entry permit) in advance through the Mount Athos Pilgrims’ Bureau. Note that women are not permitted entry and permits are limited in number.

• The monastery is within the autonomous monastic community of Mount Athos, which has strict entry rules; women are not permitted entry and men must secure a diamonitirion (visitor permit) in advance.
• Visitors should be prepared for austere accommodation and to respect liturgical schedules and silence within the monastic precincts.
• Hire an approved boat from Ouranoupolis or Dafni to approach the peninsula and coordinate landings with the Athos administration.