Article 84
The twenty Holy Monasteries of Mount Athos are divided into two categories, coenobitic and idiorrhythmic.
The coenobitic monasteries are: Dionysiou, Koutloumousiou, Zographou, Karakallou, Simonopetra, Saint Paul, Xenophontos, Grigoriou, Esphigmenou, the Rossikon and Konstamonitou.
The idiorrhythmic monasteries are: Megisti Lavra, Vatopedi, Iviron, Hilandar, Pantokratoros, Xeropotamou, Docheiariou, Philotheou, and Stavronikita.
Article 85
A coenobitic monastery may not become idiorrhythmic. An idiorrhyth mic monastery, on the other hand, may be converted into a coenobitic one at the decision of the Hiera Koinotis, provided that this is requested by an absolute majority of the monks of the monastery who have been in monastic tonsure for at least six years. Such a decision by the Hiera Koinotis to convert an idiorrhythmic monastery into a coenobitic one must be notified to the Ecumenical Patriarchate so that it may issue the required sigillion.
Article 86
The administrators of monastic property are obliged, as faithful overse ers and stewards entrusted with the income of the monastery, to administer it carefully and conscientiously, bearing full responsibility for any negligent action or misuse thereof.
Article 87
At the end of each calendar year the monastery’s authority draws up a budget for the following year. It is submitted for approval to the Synaxis of the monastery. The decision of the Synaxis is recorded in a special book, and it includes a well-founded assessment about each item listed in the budget.
Article 88
The sums given in the budget of each monastery, in principle, may not be exceeded; however, if urgent need arises to make some particular expenditure that cannot be postponed until the following year, the mon astery’s Synaxis may be asked to approve a special expenditure. The Synaxis has the right either to allow or reject this additional expenditure.
Article 89
At the beginning of each calendar year, a detailed report of the income and expenditures of each monastery for the previous year is compiled under the supervision of the Epitropi, accompanied by all receipts and other documentary evidence; they are presented to be approved by the monastery’s Synaxis in the same way as the budget.
Article 90
The abbot together with the Epitropi in the coenobitic monasteries, and the Administrative Committee in the idiorrhythmic monasteries, are the keepers of the keys to the treasury and of the monastery’s seal. They conduct the governance and administration of the monastery according to its internal regulations, with the exception of questions of a more general nature such as court cases, taking out loans, ex changing plots of land, paying off debts, erecting new buildings or undertaking substantial refurbishments of existing buildings, taking in novices, tonsuring monks, promotions and ordinations, assigning economoi [stewards] to metochia [external landholdings], acquisition of precious religious objects or plots of land, rentals and sales in gen eral, all of which should be presented for consideration to the Gerontia, which has the authority to take a decision accordingly.
Article 91
Diakonimata [monastic tasks] in each monastery are distributed amongst the brethren according to the internal regulations of the mon astery and the abilities and faculties of each monk.
Article 92
The monks of each monastery are obliged to submit to the leadership of the monastery and carry out their diakonimata without any reservations. If they fail to do so, they may be subjected to disciplinary measures. At the same time, the leaders of each monastery ought to show fatherly love to wards all monks, and care for all of them impartially and equally.
Article 93
In order to be tonsured as a monk a man must complete a novitiate of between one and three years and be at least eighteen years of age. A monk tonsured in this manner is exempted from military service.
Article 94
Each monastery shall keep a precise register of its monks [the Register of Monks or Monachologion]. The Monachologion shall list the secular name and surname of each monk, his place of origin, age, year of arrival at the monastery, year of tonsure, his degree of priesthood, information about his education, and other information worthy of mention.
Each monastery shall keep a separate record book about novices listing all relevant information about each of them. Each monastery also keeps a particular Monachologion of all monks and novices of all its dependencies. It is compiled in the manner described above.
Article 95
Any changes connected with the tonsure or death of a member of the mon astery’s brotherhood or of a dependency should be announced to the Hiera Koinotis, which keeps a general Register of all monks on Mount Athos. The dependencies always report these figures via the ruling monasteries.
Article 96
No one is allowed to leave Mount Athos without written permission from his monastery, which should contain the length and reason of his departure. Any permission to depart Mount Athos must be stamped by the Hiera Epistasia. A monastery may not refuse students permission of absence.
Article 97
The leadership and secretary of each monastery maintain the following books: 1. a Monachologion [Register of Monks]; 2. a Ktimatologion [Property Register], a list of all real estate and chattels belonging to the monastery; 3. a Ledger, in which all monastery’s income and its use are recorded; 4. a Diary, containing a chronological record of all managerial actions taken each day; 5. an official Book of Acts of monastery’s authorities; 6. a book [Protocol] of all incoming and outgoing documents; 7. a Katholikon [General Book] of income and expenditures of the monastery.
Article 98
Ordinations on Mount Athos can occur only at the proposal of the monastery’s authorities. A layperson or a non-Athonite monk may not be ordained on Mount Athos. Any ordination performed in contravention of these rules is considered void, ineffectual and shall be deemed not to have taken place. If it is discovered that an Athonite monastery has invited a bishop to ordain a monk, who does not belong to it or is a layperson, the Hiera Koinotis is obliged to issue a reprimand to the monastery, and also to inform the Great Church of Christ [i.e. the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople] of this violation. The permission of a monastery is likewise required to appoint a person to an honorary award.
Article 99
The documents of coenobitic monasteries are signed by the abbot, whereas those of idiorrhythmic monasteries are signed by the Epitropoi and authorized by the seal of the monastery. An example for an abbot’s signature is as follows: for a coenobitic monastery, “The Abbot of the Holy Monastery of … together with our brethren in Christ”; for an id iorrhythmic monastery, “The Epitropoi of the monastery of … together with our brethren in Christ” or “…and fellow Elders”.
Article 100
Real estate on Mount Athos may by no means be sold. However an exchange is possible.
Article 101
The property of an Athonite monk is transferred to his monastery if he has donated it to the monastery before being tonsured, with documentary evidence to support this. Any property acquired by a monk after ton sure is transferred to his monastery, wherever he might die, and provided that he was not issued with a document of canonical dismissal from his monastery. Monasteries are by no means responsible for the debts of their monks if they were assumed without written permission of the monastery. Monks living in coenobitic monasteries may not own any property.
Article 102
Each monastery is obliged to keep a hospital and pharmacy in a good condition in order to treat the sick, as per doctor’s orders. This occurs under the oversight of a doctor with orderlies to assist him. Each mon astery must also have a hospice for the elderly.
Article 103
If any monk wishes to leave the monastery of his repentance, he has the right to request a document of canonical dismissal. His monastery may present him with such a letter if there are deemed to be sufficient reasons for him to leave the monastery.
Article 104
When the abbot or a member of the Epitropi is absent from the monastery, one of the other Elders replaces him, always by the choice and trust of the absented person. This deputy assumes all the rights of the person he is replacing during the absence of the latter.
Article 105
Any construction or repairs to buildings carried out by any monk on monastery’s property may occur only with permission from the mon astery’s authorities; the monk does not thereby acquire any personal rights to the property, unless a different agreement has been concluded.
Article 106
All land of the monasteries generally, whether located on Mount Athos or outside of it, and which are not in the control of Ministry of Church Affairs or another government ministry, are rented out or cultivated by the parties concerned (i.e. by the monasteries of their own initiative), according to their own interests.
Rental agreements should be concluded through a contract that states in detail the rental conditions and the obligations of the tenants. The violation of any condition in the rental agreement benefiting the monastery causes the contract to be voided, a right that only the monastery may exercise. All rights held by a tenant or third party from the moment that the contract was concluded up to the moment it was voided, auto matically cease to be effective. Any delay in paying the rent gives the monastery the right to seize the asset in question on the basis of the law “On Recovery of Overdue Public Income”.
Article 107
Monasteries may appoint attorneys to defend their rights, through a document issued directly by the monastery’s authorities.
Article 108
In order to be elected as Proïstamenos [member of the monastery’s council], a candidate must be distinguished for his good morals, unimpeacha ble way of life, and administrative capabilities. Preference is always shown to people with an ecclesiastical and all-round education. By the election of a brother as Proïstamenos, the fathers of the monastery, who are not members of the monastery’s council, are forbidden from interfering. They are elected for life and may be deposed only following a court decision. The election is held in accordance with the internal regulation of each monastery.
Article 109
At their meetings, the Elders take their places according to seniority and speak in strictly hierarchical order. Each of them is free to express his opinion without any restrictions, but always within the bounds of decorum and decency. No Elder may be persecuted or punished for making a reproach or restating an opinion expressed by another Elder. Minutes must be kept recording the proceedings of each meeting.
Article 110
All monasteries or dependencies must keep a precise and detailed catalogue of manuscripts, books, sacred vestments, holy relics, ancient icons and cultural objects, and all sacred vessels. The leadership of the monastery is responsible for preserving and maintaining them.
Similar catalogues are kept for the dependencies of each monastery. None of the aforementioned property may be confiscated.
