While prepairing our trip to Athos I used the Road Map of Athos to look for new paths and interesting routes. My plan was to walk from Karyes to Koutloumousiou and Iviron, and from Iviron to Karakalou. On the Road map you can see a path marked with black lines, leaving from the backyard of Iviron. I planned to take this path and after that follow the dirt road to Magoula (with an interesting large (Russian?) building on top of these hills, that I wanted to visit!). Although we tried for more than 10 minutes, we were not able to find any path leaving from Iviron.

The surroundings of Iviron on Google maps (in 2014 I found out that “Magoula” is in fact kelli Ag. Onoufrios see 1627)

We ended up taking the common road to Karakalou, slightly boring, because I have walked this road before, but it gave me the opportunity to see two new Athos spots, the Panaghia chapel on the beach and the arsanas of Iviron.

Iviron from the seaside

Harbor-buildings of Iviron, with Stavronikita on the background

The Panaghia chapel and the Arsanas. Earlier we showed you photos from this chapel in post nr 1223. Pictures of Father Ionannis, the fishermonk of the arsanas, are presented here – 990.

In front of the chapel this watertap from 1886 is to be found.

The entrance to the chapel. The legend says that Maria came to land on this spot, after a long boat trip over the Meditaranian sea. At the place she landed on the beach, a sweet water well appeared. She was so impressed by nature, that she gave Athos the name “Garden of the Mother of God”.

Inside the chapel: a famous icon of the Panaghia and her child Jezus.

The well with a cup to drink the cold sweet water.

Looking back from the chapel to the beach: a farm /kelli with a beautiful church

The boat house of Iviron, used by father Ioannis

Half round doors: the arsanas stores the boats inside the building

Father Ioannis’ boat: unfortunately he was not there.

Another house behind the arsanas

Iviron: panorama, taken from the arsanas

View from the arsanas: Kaliagra (arsanas Kouloumousiou) and Stavronikita

Old walls near the arsanas.

Next time we will go to Karakalou

Wim, 10/3