The first comprehensive English-language reference devoted to Mount Athos (also known as the Holy Mountain), The Routledge Handbook of Mount Athos examines the principal centre of monasticism in the Byzantine world and its enduring influence on pan-Orthodox spirituality. Since the tenth century, Athos has served as an international spiritual hub whose monasteries evolved into centres of scholarship, treasure houses of art, and major landowners rivalling the Byzantine state itself.
Written by an international team of experts, the book explores all aspects of Mount Athos, including its history, spirituality, culture, and society. Chapters examine the monastic way of life, architectural styles, iconography and chant, pilgrimage traditions, and conservation efforts. The volume traces how Athonite traditions spread throughout the Orthodox world before the end of the Byzantine period and analyses the remarkable renewal of Athonite monasticism in recent decades, which has stimulated fresh research across multiple disciplines.
?his book will be an essential reference resource for Byzantinists, students of monasticism, students of Orthodoxy, and Orthodox faithful. It will also be of interest to pilgrims, friends of Mount Athos, and indeed monastics themselves.