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[Iran Forever]

Hello, mr_n1...in order to visit the Holy Mountain you need a special visa...first you have to request one at this office in Thessaloniki...if you are not Orthodox you may have to apply at least six months in advance, and only a very small and limited number of non-Orthodox are allowed entry at any given time. If you are Orthodox, the process is quicker. I am a convert to Orthodoxy, so I went to the Thessaloniki office, showed my passport and baptismal certificate, and they asked me which monasteries I would like to visit...then they took all this information and entered it into a computer and gave me a white slip of paper. I took this paper to another office in Ouranopolis (there is another one in Ierissos as well) and obtained my "diamonitirion" which is the special visa for the Holy Mountain. By the way there are buses from Thessaloniki that go all over the Halkidiki Peninsula, and you can catch the one that goes to the Holy Mountain peninsula, and of course you can only go as far as Ouranopolis or Ierissos, where you can obtain your "visa" and also catch the boat to the Holy Mountain monasteries. When you visit any monastery on the Holy Mountain, the first thing they look at is your diamonitirion, because it will indicate if you are Orthodox or not, and if you are not Orthodox, there are certain areas you may not enter...for example non-Orthodox may not enter the Church, etc. It is a wonderful experience and very inspiring.

[mr_n1]

Iran Forever,
i am orthodox too, if u dont mind me asking how come u visited the Monastry?
What experience did u get?

[Iran Forever]

[quote="mr_n1"]Iran Forever,
i am orthodox too, if u dont mind me asking how come u visited the Monastry?
What experience did u get?[/quote]

I visited the Holy Mountain because every Orthodox man should...it is the experience of a lifetime. I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone for the three days I was there...it's like nowhere else on this planet, and you are completely separated from the mundane.

[root]

Oh man you remind me the old times back in 97 when our school class was in Agios Oros. Unforgetable!!!

[mr_n1]

I think im gonna visit Agios Oros sooner or later, do u guys think itll help with a little soul searchin?