This Mountain Has Been Home to Monks for 12 Centuries

[@ДавидМандрагора]

Athos is the heart of the Orthodox Church and the World! May God bless all us!

[@yurisv7315]

Amen.

[@5spec]

Sad

[@KoniTheChiwa]

Amen

[@joshuab2437]

Monasteries seem to be a violation of the Great Commission.

[@Moodboardxyz]

I want to visit & climb Mount Athos. I will be near Athos next week, do you have any tips on how to get there? I heard you have to reserve a spot two weeks ahead. Is it still possible for me?

[@alfsen_3426]

Greece, my favorite country in the world for near endless reasons. While I like many countries, I truly fell in love with Greece.

[@finlandmapping]

me too

[@1971typhoon]

Have you ever been to Rhodes?

[@sagestrings869]

just dont ever trust them to run finacial institutions.

[@ΧριστοφόροςΠαντόπουλος]

​@@sagestrings869Correction, dont trust our polititians to run financial institusions. When under capable goverments, our economy whent somewhat well

[@boomerproductions1317]

Really appreciate the documentary about a sacred place we respect here in Greece! Thank you very much and many greetings from Athens!

[@snoochpounder]

Wouldn’t call this a documentary

[@boomerproductions1317]

Phuc Yu A small one:)

[@deathlyhallows6744]

Oh yeah yeah

[@Moodboardxyz]

Hey man, I want to visit & climb Mount Athos. I will be near Athos next week, do you have any tips on how to get there? I heard you have to reserve a spot two weeks ahead. Is it still possible for me?

[@Z1BABOUINOS]

I've traveled the world for half a century. Only in Mount Athos had this strange, intense mystical vibe that I can't really describe. And I'm not the religious type. It's been 34 years since my last visit (the second one), and all those years in the back of my mind, the thought of visiting again keeps popping up from now and then. As an obligation almost, that I MUST fulfil. So strange.....

[@DChristina]

Highly recommend visiting your local Orthodox Church. Saturday night Vespers is a great start💕☦️

[@apmikalogran]

I traveled to America Europe Asia and I have to return there for sure

[@cez19]

Maybe it's a spiritual quest that's calling for you to return. You got nothing to lose by going back.

[@noorlee7874]

Listen to your heart

[@Moodboardxyz]

Guys, I want to visit & climb Mount Athos. I will be near Athos next week, do you have any tips on how to get there? I heard you have to reserve a spot two weeks ahead. Is it still possible for me?

[@WAYNE-hz5wr]

No bosses, no deadline, no taxes, jobs, responsibilities. Just you, worshiping god, living of the land for the rest of your life😌

[@TheRealRealOK]

Oh Yeah Yeah Hmm, they do have responsibilities. They’re called obediences. They labor all day, both physically and spiritually.

[@aridroutsas3786]

The is always got to be one of you dickheads that have to reply with shit.

[@stelioskatsampadimas1693]

correct!

[@someguy9571]

@@aridroutsas3786 Well he's not wrong.

[@zachoo5135]

@@someguy9571 but their is struggle with Satan which is very hard

[@airgregone]

This place is like a heaven on earth for them , they only use what they need to live and that's all . It's something really special to be a part of the evolution of ours societies and those monks needs to be really wise to live his entire life silently and pray every day during decades .

[@denikoka5899]

The most beautiful country in the world, no one can change my mind.

[@webeskimo]

which mind?

[@yurisv7315]

If that thought makes you happy, then you shall be Happy my friend. God Bless!

[@petrosk.7838]

💙

[@starman1144]

It's not a country. It's an Autonomous state within the Hellenic Republic (Greece)

[@carniedph]

You ever seen a photo of Fiji ?

[@bicyclist2]

I once saw a longer documentary on Mount Athos. I'm a little jealous of the life of these monks. I would love to go there some day. Thank you.

[@waterotter3625]

You can practice the simplicity and godly devotion at home, as they do!

[@archonpanagiotis6158]

Athos the Holy Mountain (Greece) - CBS Documentary kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIPafamvrNF5eZo 2) The Hermits of Karoulia of Mount Athos kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHu8eHmPgN5nl9k

[@leosedf]

Been there MANY times. I also created the mobile phone networks there.

[@feliciaf8]

@Joshua张志鸿 lmao

[@arnoldusrichard3888]

Bless you sir

[@Bigdogspyke]

You? Single handed with no help created the mobile phone networks there Mmhmmmm

[@leosedf]

@@Bigdogspyke it was a whole crew of 17 people under supervision, most of the gsm stuff was installed by diekat a construction company who bankrupt a few years before. The newer networks by us, the elders inside do not allow anyone to construct stuff in there giving the jobs to specific people (my former boss was a monk there). These days I don't know who installs or maintains but most of the elders are sold to stuff,money and free Internet. Over the years it became a really nice tourist place (especially for russians). Nothing to do with religion anymore.

[@Bigdogspyke]

@@leosedf sounds pretty cool So much for “no distractions” 😂😂

[@PrinceRightyI]

I heard Mount Athos has the best and freshest Greek cuisine in all of Greece. 😁

[@complexteo-iwnl3321]

Yea its true due to them fishing everyday and also everything is fresj

[@atropabelladonna3120]

They cultivate and eat their own products after all.

[@arcade3252]

One of my friends went there and he said that even fried eggplant was good.

[@lachiere_sixx7735]

Its not true. You should see it as freshest of the freshest indeed. But much of Greece is like that.

[@arcade3252]

Wrong this place has a different aura than everywhere in Greece

[@mina784]

Great historical place. Great hello from Egypt, the land of Pharaohs and Alexandria Orthodox church

[@manos418]

God bless you brother

[@Raboon16283]

And where slaves built tourist attractions.

[@manos418]

@@Raboon16283 what do you mean?

[@Raboon16283]

manos HELLAS pyramids

[@mina784]

@@Raboon16283 What is your problem with our civilization?

[@Felix_D.]

Who is the genius who wrote the you tube English captions *father nellos speaks in foreign language* that cover the actual English captions that explain what he is saying

[@Kanal7Indonesia]

Ikr i had to deactivate the subtitles

[@Chorophilax]

That foreign language is called G R E E K

[@drpoundsign]

@@Chorophilax "Butthead-what language is that??" "BEAVIS-you Dumbass...it's FOREIGN!!"

[@thebigsad9463]

Such a beautiful place

[@ivannovotny4552]

How beautiful and peaceful, perfect place for meditation and self-reflection. Thank you for sharing.

[@santoshd6613]

Totally agree....

[@dinaridwolf9894]

What do you mean with meditation? Its a sin.

[@ivannovotny4552]

@@dinaridwolf9894 What I meant? Exactly what I said.

[@santoshd6613]

@@dinaridwolf9894 Study Vedanta and u will know meditation...

[@santoshd6613]

@@ivannovotny4552 Apt reply...

[@redsea3828]

Wonderful orthodox

[@unleashingpotential-psycho9433]

I love how these monks preserve their culture 👍🏾

[@finnishguy4002]

@@marka.1770 Oh wait sorry i read that wrong. My mistake.

[@panos3677]

Monks saved some of our traditions with their own way and with their life . Greeting from Trikala .

[@anthonytsi8686]

@@user-ny7tt8my1r cool name

[@adim00lah]

These guys have an average life expectancy of 94!! They garden / farm their own food and wine, as well as hiking up and down the mountainous terrain / stairs ot the monestary for exercise, they fast, and they are pesco-vegetarian. This is the life right here, simple and healthy, I envy them.

[@Messiisthebest724]

My guess on why they have such a high life expectancy is probably because they eat good and healthy and the food isn’t full of sugar, calories, carbs, cholesterol, and fat and also it isn’t pumped with chemicals either

[@benjaminmarker]

It truly is a place of peace and tranquility. I've been there 3 times and it is an amazing and beautiful place. I'm not religious myself, so I come for the experience of it all, as it is like being thrown back centuries..

[@leslieblanco3536]

How were you able to get in?

[@benjaminmarker]

@@leslieblanco3536 It's actually not that difficult. You start by writing their office in Thessaloniki asking for permission to enter and enclose a copy of your passport and the dates you want to visit. They usually answer within a few days to confirm and asks you to contact the monasteries you want to stay at. The latter part is more difficult, as the monks don't spend much time online or by the phone. But I would recommend being persistant with getting confirmation as some of the monasteries are popular, and you might get turned down (happened to me once). I also wrote, truthfully, that I was the son of a Pentecostal pastor, not sure if that made a difference though.. The morning before taking the ferry, you go to the pilgrims office in Ouranopolis and get your "visa" which you need to show when boarding the ferry. From there on you are pretty much on your own and can just hike around the Mountain. All this, of course, only applies if you are male..

[@leslieblanco3536]

@@benjaminmarker I'm a woman so I can't go lmao. BUt I love this place. Wish they can make an exception. I'll wear a long robe or whatever. Anyway, if you're not religious why did you go? Just for the sight seeing aspect?

[@benjaminmarker]

@@leslieblanco3536 Haha, well if you don't mind risking going to jail, go ahead ;) Yeah, I was just there for the adventure. Not many places in the world like this, so when I heard about it, I just felt the need to experience it. I guess I was probably the only gay atheist there. Haha..

[@leslieblanco3536]

@@benjaminmarker Jesus loves you regardless!

[@edelkebap]

"To some outsiders this lifestyle seems archaic." No, this is what peace looks like.

[@observatoire5497]

Very peaceful indeed.

[@petar7138]

Amazing,I'm planing to visit peninsula next year.

[@complexteo-iwnl3321]

Man?

[@TinaICXCNIKA]

Just learned about Mount Athos last week and simply cannot get enough...if I were Male, I'd be making plans to go! BTW, the rustic kitchen @2:42 is wonderful. Thanks for doing this video.

[@juliusbakker4415]

There are plenty of female monasteries you can visit

[@kyleanuar9090]

@@juliusbakker4415 it's very seldom words are spoken in the male settings but the female ones have much communications. The peace including quietness for males but connections with females.

[@justinemanzano9257]

Rest in peace Mihailo Tolotos. Lived 82 years on mount athos as a monk who’s never once encountered a woman.

[@paulwilliams9207]

A wonderful way of life, simple holy and peaceful. I wish ...

[@_____c___482]

Paul Williams I see you on so many comment sections lol

[@captainfamp5299]

I AM PROUD TO BE GREEK🇬🇷🇬🇷

[@zeusdeniro3925]

ME TOO , BIG TIME 👍👍

[@danieldoneski9666]

I hope to visit one day, greece is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. North Macedonia and Greece orthodox brothers 🇲🇰🇬🇷

[@nickolaospappas4485]

I actually disagree . Macedonia is Greek. But for the sake of our faith im gonna put our differences aside. So i love you brother❤☦. Love from Greece!!🇬🇷🇬🇷

[@spotted9106]

Aye greetings to you brother. ♥️

[@roseakane6019]

The icon picture looked like a church old enough to be more than 300 years in Lebanon where Gubran Khalil Gubran's village and grave. But in both the views are facenating, magical and puts you in deep meditation. God's glory and mercifulness.

[@noorlee7874]

Very peaceful place. This world now has so much chaos. Those monks living in this peaceful existence with no distractions are really blessed and safe. I would really love to visit this place. Anyone interested to visit Greece in nature ?

[@johnlyman2054]

I don’t think the folks talking about peace and tranquility in these comments really get it. The monks will say it’s not peaceful, that it’s a battleground, where a war is happening. They’re not hippies getting their kumbayayas out. They are there for the purpose of working to attain communion with God through the hard work of ascesis.

[@znovosad555]

It’s because of the falsehoods of society they’ve been engrained to think that living an ascetic life is easy. There is no easy path. As late Mother Ilaria said it as long as Gods commandments aren’t being fulfilled, monks and nuns have to continually pray.” It’s a beautiful life, but a difficult one.

[@Moodboardxyz]

I want to visit & climb Mount Athos. I will be near Athos next week, do you have any tips on how to get there? I heard you have to reserve a spot two weeks ahead. Is it still possible for me?

[@saquibahmad599]

One of the best KZbin channel ever

[@andrew42]

I’ve been on Mount Athos.

[@mermaidgirl9232]

Andrew 42 ...curious and maybe a dumb question for some. What do they do with the bodies when they pass away?

[@Patoza21]

Lucy Mae buried in earth for 3 years and after this period, skulls and bones placed into a sacred place alongside previous era monks awaiting the day of the resurrection as Jesus Christ promised

[@captaintaylor8265]

Great big story you continue to impress me!greetings from greece!!!

[@angeloparra434]

I will like to live there

[@johnclivethomas3109]

Chronia Polla! Kale Chronia!

[@rrocketman]

Excellent, thumbs up

[@nikrose5229]

God bless us all!

[@shevevero5284]

Wanna visit this place in the future!!!

[@lukabrsi]

I remember visiting when I was only 12-13, now my heart craves the mountain again

[@marjorieallworth6172]

I hope they pray for people like me! ✨🎶

[@waterotter3625]

They do, and so do I! God bless and protect you!

[@eleniasimop]

They pray for everyone, especially for ones feeling that they are not worthy.

[@unionofonions_1]

The things I’d do to live that life, man…

[@shinhook2k280]

it takes 2 years for them to see if you are capable of being there

[@olubunmiolumuyiwa]

It's a spiritual battleground. It only looks materialistically easy from the outside. Most people can't even handle doing Morning and Evening prayers consistantly everyday in the working world. What makes people think it's easy be able to pray all day whilst working the gorund?

[@bryanbenny1704]

That's the way all should live no war nothing ❤️

[@skvader4189]

Go to the Ostrog moneastery

[@me.atul10]

Winner is only one who wins his senses, and if I am saying these words, it means something, very clearly. 😊

[@georgitsit5129]

Beautiful

[@baroah8301]

Healthy mind, healthy body, healthy spirit

[@Cp....icnttyuif]

The Republic of Athos is dedicated to the Theotokos ❤☦🇬🇷

[@ZaneT531]

We kailash in Himalaya a lot of sadu and monks stay n mountain even during winter

[@mr.yuriinspector347]

That’s the best like/dislike ratio I have ever seen.

[@GeorgeCarlin-gr2im]

How many tell me pls it's not there

[@asicdathens]

While I was working for a mobile operator in the early 2000's they installed a mobile base station camouflaged as a cross.

[@leosedf]

I also did many projects for voda and cosmote. The reason behind that is not to disrupt the simple look of the landscape, it has to blend in.

[@kahinaoftheelements4845]

Im not sure if mentioned but entrance to the mount is forbidden to women. Soooo...to the ladies planning on coming im sorry :3

[@shinhook2k280]

If you really wanna still see it for yourself the closest you can get is in a boat

[@SailorOYK]

i am Greek!!!

[@surf2888]

ευχαριστούμε για την ενημέρωση

[@SailorOYK]

τιποτα

[@webeskimo]

very sorry for you...maybe in you next life things will turn out better for you lol

[@anthonytsi8686]

@@fillprg9242 he is jealous lol

[@georgeb248]

@@webeskimo MALAKA

[@o.7373]

Does anyone know how to stay with the monks on Mount Athos? My son wants a spiritual retreat and to stay, pray and learn from the monks for about 1 or 2 months

[@ObliviAce]

Hi! I think the simplest way to do so is for him to go to mount athos himself and converse with the abbots there of how he may go there to find solitude. Joseph the Hesychast became an athonite monk in such a way too in his journey to learn how to pray without ceasing.

[@aphroditesmith823]

It is the Sanctuary for King Charls ,along with many prestigious men that want to escape the life's Turmoil.

[@complexteo-iwnl3321]

Greek ? +1

[@mammontustado9680]

Now I can have a more accurate depiction in my head of this place mentioned in The Brothers Karamazov.

[@debranichols5397]

God Bl 🙌 you Father Nellos

[@leotravers9728]

Oh yeah yeah

[@ifyousubtomeyouwillgainabs6072]

Damn, 12 centuries is like 2940 years!

[@mmsleepycatmm]

bruh you tryna be funny or what

[@ic1628]

No thats like 3

[@ihave0likesonmycomments111]

no that's 1200 because a century is 100 years and 2940 is 20 something centuries

[@chingghishan5707]

Default skin with -1 subs R/ woo... idk anymore

[@pilote23]

Chinggis Han r/foundthemobileuser

[@GeorgeCarlin-gr2im]

Finnally I found heaven I would go there

[@nyctiphaes]

It was not mentioned women are not allowed to enter.

[@Emiel3673]

Just like men are not allowed on Women cinema nights. No big deal to me.

[@anonyuhenriksen2882]

Just like me- a guy- never get to know my female friends secrets, how I am not allowed to join their movie nights. Also there are many temples, churches etc. where men are now allowed.

[@nyctiphaes]

@@Emiel3673 I dont care to be honest, and I say let them have their way, they dont disturb anyone. But it should be mentioned. In Greece most men, religious or not, try to visit at least once.

[@ΑλέξανδροςΖάρρας-β3π]

Its not because they are sexist its because they want to dedicate their life to god and nothing else. Imagine if female tourists with shorts and yoga pants went the monks will be hesitated to take a path away form god.

[@050-ghiffaryramadhana9]

just like the arabs no big deal here

[@hummingbirdjourney2971]

Beautiful. but quiet

[@rodlambo]

Born Orthodox Die Orthodox ☦️⚔️

[@wewuzirlyriliansandshiiit6123]

Athos, Macedonia®, Greece

[@tmmg8598]

God bless. Amin.

[@TokyoNightGirlLofi]

💞Wow💛💗💗💗💗💗💛

[@LPwatcher]

These people don't know about the 2016 presidential election. They don't know about Brexit. They don't know about all the crazy and stupid bullshit going on in the world. They just ply their chosen craft in peace and quiet. It kinda makes me want to become a monk.

[@webeskimo]

if you like banging male asses ,,, sure you should

[@kotsoskotsou8864]

they have internet, tv, phones and everything + pilgrims everyday. They are aware

[@palkisakumi8595]

@@kotsoskotsou8864 Even those that live in the countryside by themselves ?

[@shinhook2k280]

@@kotsoskotsou8864 they don't keep up with any of the outside world, I'm pretty sure that's only for the visitors

[@iknok4942]

one day i will hopefully be an athonite

[@Ortho-Station]

God bless you brother and help you on this journey ☦️

[@axazaju2814]

I want to visit this place,I am an orthodox christian living in US.What is the process of getting there?anybody know

[@shinhook2k280]

I think you need to go to ouranopouli first then get a ferry there arranged, but you can only actually step foot there if you are male, if you're female you can only admire from a boat

[@siyuanguo4505]

Athos is what to eastern christians as what Vatican city is to European christians

[@vadrak6197]

Athos is in Europe in case you didn't know geography...and Greece is a southern European country.

[@anwerabdallah569]

am a muslim but i love Christians and Christianity. i wish to visit the Mountain but i dont know if they will allow me to visit it at least once in my life.

[@greekgirlsofia2937]

Muslims can visit mount athos as well, only women are not allowed

[@shinhook2k280]

I am pretty sure the answer is yes, even atheists are allowed, no reason Muslims who worship the same god shouldn't, however it will probably take longer to arrange it

[@dennisdahlgren7071]

I love jeues

[@NdisanzeClement]

God made

[@wilsonseto1]

this reminds me of Avatar the Last airbender

[@georgijepapadopulou3874]

Хиландар српска светиња!

[@roland-xi8go]

Father spyrodon lives in Mount athos holiest place in the planet

[@conar696]

These boys old

[@karolinapankowska9648]

I'm from Greece I don't need the captions xD

[@Bazi786x]

Remind me of Skyrim

[@rocoreb]

i have been there. honestly, once you approach some of the monasteries, which resemble castle-like hold of the middle ages, you do get that kind of feeling. something between lord of the rings and skyrim, plus GOT. its is truly amazing. you should go there some time. you will be blown away, and just because of the castles. the place breathes deep Christian spirituality

[@xzasdaii2362]

Real life Greybeards (Skyrim Reference)

[@carus6280]

I belive that they are the inspiration for the greybeards.

[@manevolent]

Invite me there

[@Hello-xb1xe]

The guy who put the KZbin English subtitles is a troll.

[@GChris-ny8fp]

Way too short

[@kenneth9343]

Hello

[@TartarusPyro]

2:02 like an ancient hellenic hoplite make money so you buy your own gear long live byzantine empire

[@shinhook2k280]

Hoplites were ancient Greek.. not byzantine

[@TartarusPyro]

@@shinhook2k280 you did not understand what I wanted to say an hellenic hoplites used to buy their own weapons armor etc

[@schlimeee]

They say you its very hard to be able to go their but we can you google maps!

[@SwoteOffical]

wake up wake up wake up

[@aromanlegionnair5096]

From what

[@Kanal7Indonesia]

I always wondering how they build those monasteries on cliffs ?

[@webeskimo]

you probably also wander wfhy 2+2=4 lol I wonder who fucked marry and blamed god for it lol

[@Daniel-jm7ts]

because they had to be well defendet agianst invadors

[@eleniasimop]

We Greeks like to build on cliffs. It makes invasions more difficult. For example: Hadn't you ever seen photos of Meteora and Santorini?

[@sulaulaman4717]

Is he wearing crocs? 2:19

[@giannisdrou1199]

It seems so

[@shinhook2k280]

No, they make their shoes themselves

[@mmsleepycatmm]

1200+ years... weird flex but ok

[@rajashah1353]

Not kidding but i was thinking he was speaking Sanskrit like which version of Greek is this

[@kotsaris87]

Modern Greek.

[@Alphazor77]

Is there internet there?

[@juliusbakker4415]

Yes

[@giorgosdroso3441]

MACEDONIA IS GREEK

[@webeskimo]

it has never been greek....greece was macedonia for a while though lol philip and lexander etc kept you pieces of shit under control

[@kotsoskotsou8864]

@@webeskimo uneducated braindead idiots like yourself should not be allowed to use the internet.

[@Gr95dc]

For me that sounds awesome. Take the religious part and I'm all on board to live a peaceful life like that one

[@giannisdrou1199]

Sorry but women are not allowed

[@Gr95dc]

@@giannisdrou1199 yeah, I already knew. Still I didn't said I wanted to live a peaceful life specifically in that island

[@giannisdrou1199]

@@Gr95dc oh sory i thought you meant as a visitor to go there

[@freakshow1659]

ooo

[@aspectoftheyeti1232]

I can turn this into an idea for a Roblox game.

[@hoboplay6703]

Peace and love from Republic of Macedonia.

[@ΜιλτιάδηςΜπαλτατζής]

From fake Macedonia 🖕

[@vadrak6197]

There is no Republic of Macedonia, there is only one Macedonia and it is a province located in northern Greece.

[@pavlekovacevic1676]

​@@vadrak6197 Macedonia is Serbia

[@joenock3466]

GODLY COMITMENT

[@anastasiaburr3959]

Yeah, they pray to the idols they themselves make out of wood silver and paint, and give false promises to the innocent and ignorant people!

[@odysseasntalias5950]

Your knowledge about orthodoxy is limited. Orthodox do not worship icons. They revere the God and saints through them...

[@abhinavthakur8232]

Citadel

[@h3ntaicannon720]

I wonder how they survived prosecution from my ottomans for so long since they must’ve been there since the 800s. Must’ve lived in secret for 500-600 years damn

[@hmmm6317]

The ottomans were pretty chill for most of history ,until they executed the patriarch

[@h3ntaicannon720]

ĐÆÑÖRĮŅ ŚŰØŘŽƏÑÆMŮŠ the ottomans only became lenient in prosecution of non Islamic citizens within their empire because of heavy western influence as well as the weakening of their empire and their dependency on the western European powers. They even made a deal with one of the powers support if they gave non Islamic citizens the same rights as the Islamic ones.

[@h3ntaicannon720]

Mark A. The ottomans only stretched into the levant and across the west coast of the Arabian peninsula as well as having Egypt however you state that they stability across the Middle East which is wrong since the Middle East comprises of Iran and many other Arabian countries which the ottomans never set foot in which makes a majority of the Middle East. Also other major powers were in those areas before ottoman invasion who had stability. Even if stability was achieved by the ottomans in this region it was at an extreme cost for many minorities since even badmouthing Islam or the sultan in the Ottoman Empire was punishable by death... also they had to agree that Islam was dominant and superior to the minorities culture and beliefs... so some stability? There were constant uprisings and rebellions across the empire especially in Egypt so I wouldn’t consider this as stabilisation in the region

[@Patoza21]

Shrek Cannon wrong Ottomans were never lenient. The had this cruel actions of taken male babies from their Christian families and raise them as Muslims. They are known as genitsars. Mount Athos many times was plunderd by Ottoman hordes. Many times however it was saved by the divine intervention of Virgin Mary and they are written evidence for that even by the Ottomans.

[@Huskyesra]

I wonder why not everyone in the balkans are muslim and all the churches are still alive and well. Wonder why... Anyways, you can google for yourself. When the ottomans took Thessaloniki the monks of the monastary became under a special protection under the Mehmet II rule. They had some sort of agreement with him and the dude literally put out laws that would protect monastaries around the area.