We continue with the pictures which a friend has graciously shared with us from his recent visit to Mt Athos, this time from the little town of Karyes (population 135), right in the middle of the peninsula, which serves as the administrative center of the Monastic Republic. The main church, dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, is also called the Protaton, after the Protos (the Greek word for “first”), the monks who serves as the administrative head of the entire community. The church was founded in the early 10th century, even before the completion of the Great Lavra, the first monastery of the Athonite hierarchy. (Below the divider, there are some pictures of the town and of the view of the sea.)
The main administrative building.
A school building.
