Occupations of Monks in Mount Athos

Monastic Diakonia

A visitor of any Athonite monastery can immediately realize that, apart from their liturgical and spiritual duties, the monks have much more responsibilities. They contribute to the running of the monastery by taking on different occupations. As in any community, monks engage in manual labour in order to earn a living.

In Mount Athos, most of the monastery's needs are covered by the service of the monks. Rest time is minimal and the members of the brotherhood use it creatively, by being occupied with useful things. For example, they write or paint icons that are not bound for selling but for personal satisfaction and mental elevation.

There are monks who are responsible for more than one occupation. Some tasks require the participation of many people and, therefore, several monks are involved in their fulfillment.

Types of Occupations

Iconographer: he is engaged in the iconographic decoration of churches and the production of portable icons.

Many monks in Mount Athos depict in their works the figures of the saints, following the traditions of Byzantine iconography. Some of the most famous iconographers of all times, as well as graduates of the Athonite Academy, continue in their works the Athonite tradition.

Ampelikos: he takes care of the vineyard (αμπέλι — ampeli). During the last twenty years, many monasteries in Mount Athos have developed their own vineyards, producing wine not only for their own needs, but also for export and sale. In this way, they are continuing a great centuries-old tradition.

Representative: he represents the monastery in the Holy Community.

Arsanaris: he is in charge of the monastery's dock and port (αρσανάς — arsanas).

Archontar: he is responsible for the pilgrims' hostel (αρχονταρίκι — archontariki) and the accommodation of visitors to the monastery.

Vagenaris: he is in charge of the monastery's wine cellars  (βαγεναριό — vagenario). Wine has been produced in Mount Athos for 1000 years, as winemaking is deeply rooted in Christian tradition. Many varieties of grapes, created with the labour of human hands, are cultivated and bear fruit in the Holy Garden of Theotokos, with the constant care and attention of the monks.

Bookbinder: he binds books. The libraries of Mount Athos contain a great quantity of unique manuscripts. The value of these works is undeniable. Additionally, the number of manuscripts kept in the Athonite libraries is also impressive: the total number of manuscripts is about 15,000, while the two largest collections of Greek manuscripts in Europe — the Vatican and the Bibliothèque Nationale de Paris — number in total no more than 10,000.

The contribution of the manuscripts of Mount Athos to the cultural development of Europe is invaluable. According to the librarian of the Monastery of Great Lavra, Hieromonk Nicodemus, “no one can say with certainty where humanity would be today without the ancient knowledge preserved in the manuscripts of the Byzantine monasteries and especially the monasteries of Mount Athos. Most probably, the Western Renaissance would have been several centuries too late…”.

Librarian: he is responsible for the archives and libraries of the monastery.

Secretary: he is responsible for the correspondence and external communication of the monastery.

Reader: he is responsible for reading books of great spiritual content to the monks, during the meals in the monastic trapeza.

Dochiaris: he is responsible for the supplies (δοχείο — dochio, which is another way to speak of the storage room). The monastic diet is more than what can be called the Mediterranean diet. Behind the diet of an Athonite monk there is a philosophy that shapes it. There is a timeless cultural sensitivity that accompanies it. Many foods, produced by the monks with effort and love, today constitute a model of a healthy diet that promotes longevity. The monastic diet continues the tradition of the diet of ancient Greece, which was preserved through Orthodoxy and formed the typical diet of each Greek family until recent years.

Supervisor: he is a monk or hieromonk that is sent to the Holy Epistasia (supervisory authority) by all monasteries that are entitled to participate in it.

Collector: he brings the harvest from the monastery's farms.

Abbot: he is the archimandrite, an hieromonk and the spiritual father of all monks.

Pervolaris: he is responsible for the exterior gardens (περιβόλλι — pervoli) of the monastery.

One of the most important tasks of the monks of Saint Sergius is the maintenance of a proper ecology. They recognise and respect the importance of health not only for the soul, but also for the body. Human nature is dual, within us there are combined the fragile material body and the immortal soul. By preserving and multiplying the unique flora of Mount Athos, cultivating plants and medicinal herbs, the monks of Saint George contribute as well to the preservation of the ecology of the Athonite peninsula.

Kaiktzis: he is responsible for the monastery's small boats (καΐκι — kaiki).

Koimitiriaris: he is responsible for the cemetery (κοιμητήριο — koimitirio) and the ossuary of the monastery.

Kolyvas: he is the monk who prepares the kolyva for the monastic feasts.

Bell ringer: he is the monk who rings the bells.

Cook: he is responsible for preparing the meals in the monastery.

Nurse: he takes care of the patients in the monastery’s treatment room.

Prosmonarios: he is responsible for the uninterrupted prayers to the miraculous icon of each monastery.

The land of Mount Athos is flooded with tears shed by the monks, offering prayers and praises to the Lord and the Most Holy Theotokos. It is a place of vigil, penance and humility. In Mount Athos there are a great number of miraculous icons of the Virgin Mary. Pilgrimage iconostasis are set in almost every monastery.

Prosforiaris: he is responsible for baking the offerings, and the bread for worship (πρόσφορο — prosforo).

Protos: he is a monk or hieromonk sent by one of the 5 monasteries that have the right to appoint a first supervisor when it is their turn.

Tailor: he is responsible for sewing robes and garments for the monks of the monastery.

Pharmacist: he was the monk who prepared medicines and ointments based on medicinal herbs. Today he is the head of the pharmacy.

Fisherman: he is responsible for fishing and supplying the monastery with seafood.