Athos, Mount

   The rugged and picturesque peninsula, easternmost of the three promontories of Chalkidike (q.v.), where the famous Athonian monasteries are located. At present there are 20 monasteries, of which 17 are Greek, one is Russian (Panteleemon Monastery), one is Serbian (Hilandar Monastery [q.v.]), and one is Bulgarian (Zographou Monastery). At the end of the peninsula is Mount Athos, hence the name (called Ayion Oros [Holy Mountain], in Greek). When monasticism (q.v.) began on Athos is debated, but certainly by the ninth century monks were living there as hermits (q.v.), and in groups. Euthymios the Younger founded the first lavra (q.v.) during the reign of Michael III. In the reign of Basil I (q.v.), Kolobou, the first monastery, was founded. The construction of the Great Lavra (q.v.) in 963 by Athanasios of Athos (q.v.) was a major event, for it was the first large-scale cenobitic (q.v.) monastery founded, and it had an imperial benefactor, Nikephoros II Phokas (q.v.). This set the pattern for subsequent imperial support and protection. By the 11th century the number of monasteries had multiplied to over 40. Monks from all over the Orthodox world came, including Georgians (who founded Iveron [q.v.] in 979), Armenians, Serbs, Italians, Russians, and Bulgarians. The independence of the monasteries increased along with their wealth, which was aided by acquiring properties outside of Athos. It survived Latin rule, the raids of the Catalan Grand Company (q.v.), and conquest in 1430 by the Ottomans (q.v.), who confirmed the peninsula's independence in return for an annual tribute. The Athonian monasteries continue to thrive, as a living legacy of Byzantium (q.v.) to the modern world.