Karoulia ( el, Καρούλια, lit=pulley) is an

Eastern Orthodox Eastern Orthodoxy, also known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity, is one of the three main branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholicism and Protestantism. Like the Pentarchy of the first millennium, the mainstream (or "canonical") ...

skete A skete ( ) is a monastic community in Eastern Christianity that allows relative isolation for monks, but also allows for communal services and the safety of shared resources and protection. It is one of four types of early monastic orders, a ...

of the community of Mount Athos that is subordinate to the

Great Lavra The Monastery of Great Lavra ( el, Μονή Μεγίστης Λαύρας) is the first monastery built on Mount Athos. It is located on the southeastern foot of the Mount at an elevation of . The founding of the monastery in AD 963 by Athanasi ...

. It is located on the southernmost shore of

Mount Athos Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...

. Karoulia has 12 huts built in the 17th century. About 10 monks live in Karoulia.

Description

The monks at Karoulia practice

hesychasm Hesychasm (; Greek: Ησυχασμός) is a contemplative monastic tradition in the Eastern Orthodox Church in which stillness (''hēsychia'') is sought through uninterrupted Jesus prayer. While rooted in early Christian monasticism, it took it ...

and

asceticism Asceticism (; from the el, ἄσκησις, áskesis, exercise', 'training) is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their p ...

. Their dwellings are caves or small huts that cling to the side of the mountain, at 100–500 m above the sea. Access is only possible by ladder or rope. The monks pray there alone or sometimes with a few people while contemplating the sea and the landscape.Article title
/ref> Vegetarian monks ( el, βοσκοί) who ate only plants and herbs once lived at Karoulia. Karoulia can be divided into Outer Karoulia, which is the lower part of Karoulia by the seashore, and Inner Karoulia (also nicknamed "Frightful Karoulia"), located in the cliffs. The port of Karoulia is called Katounakia, from which there is a ferry to Dafni.

Notable people

* Nikon of Karoulia, a Russian hermit who lived at St. George's, Karoulia from 1941 to 1963

References

External links

Photographs of KarouliaVideo of Karoulia
{{Mount Athos Sketes in Mount Athos Greek Orthodox monasteries Christian hermitages in Greece Cliff dwellings Great Lavra