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I. Anyone wishing to visit Mount Athos, except for pilgrims from nearby areas, must appear before the Holy Superintendence in order to obtain the permission to visit the monasteries and dependent institutions (Art. 176 of the Charter). This permission, known as a diamonitirion, specifies the duration of the visitor's stay on the holy land, after which the visitor must necessarily leave. If not, they shall be removed by force. This rule is strictly enforced and applies to citizens of Greece and other countries, both Orthodox and representatives of other religions, as well as to laypeople and clergy alike.
In 1993, the Holy Superintendence, due to the continually increasing number of pilgrims to Mount Athos, established for the first time a maximum daily number of permitted visitors (which can be increased or decreased at the discretion of the Holy Community). Secondly, it set up special offices in Thessaloniki and Ouranoupoli, where individuals planning to visit the monastic institutions may apply for a diamontirion.
II. Special conditions apply to two categories of visitors to Mount Athos.
1. Archpriests invited to perform several rites in Mount Athos must, in addition to the appropriate invitation from the Holy Community, also carry a written permission from the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the unhindered performance of the sacred rites (Art. 173 of the Charter).
2. Those wishing to visit the monastic libraries of the Athonite monasteries must provide the Holy Community with a recommendation letter from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs or from the Ecumenical Patriarchate (Art. 185, para. 2 of the Charter).
III. The matter of visitors to Mount Athos was likewise addressed in the Presidential Decree entitled "On the Organization of the Administration of Mount Athos," which came into force for the first time in 1998. This regulation clearly states that according to the provisions of Article 176 of the Constitutional Charter, "entry to Mount Athos and visit of the Athonite monasteries and dependent institutions is accessible to any male person residing permanently or temporarily or has legally entered the territory of the Greek state" (Art. 3, para. 2 of Presidential Decree No. 227/1998).
However, the same decree, in addition to the requirement for obtaining a diamontirion as stipulated in Art. 176 of the Charter, imposes another restriction on visitors. Specifically, it states that the governor may request the Holy Superintendence not to issue a diamontirion, based on a written, justified request, in case there are serious concerns that certain individuals may commit a punishable act (at least a minor offense) or violate a prohibitive decree as outlined in Article 184 of the Charter (Art. 3, para. 1, item 3 of Presidential Decree No. 227/1998).
If this request is accepted by the Holy Superintendence, then the governor issues a written order prohibiting these individuals from entering the territory of Mount Athos or ordering their removal. The order of the Governor is executed immediately by the police forces, customs officers, the personnel of the Coast Guard and the Fire Department. The order is also communicated orally to the individuals concerned.
