"Panagiya" pilgrim service

The pilgrimage is one of the directions of spiritual activity of Church which goes to an extreme antiquity and is a form of divine worship and realization of spiritual need of orthodox Christians in worship shrines, participation in church service held in holy places, prayful communication with believers of other Local Orthodox Churches, as manifestation of unity and conciliarity of Orthodox church, according to the doctrine of the Holy Script, Universal Cathedrals and Holy Fathers.

(Provision 1 on pilgrimage and pilgrim service of Ukrainian Orthodox Churches)

Mysterious Athos is the holy mountain and the monastic state. The trip there is a visit of something beautiful and surprising where there is nothing superfluous, casual and senseless.

Alexander Dvorkin "Athos stories"

Pilgrimage to Athos

Athos is a place of an incessant prayer and monastic act, and, at the same time, this is the independent monastic state therefore it is necessary to be prepared correctly for a trip.

As Athos is a part of the territory of Greece, so the Schengen visa is necessary for the visit (Here you can study the list of documents for registration of the Schengen visa).

We recommend you to prepare for a trip to Athos beforehand (in 2 – 3 months), it will help to process all necessary documents in time and to make a reservation in monastic hotels for pilgrims on Athos.

Priests who plan a pilgrim trip have to address to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s Pilgrim Center to get special permission from the Universal Patriarch. (Address of the UPTs Pilgrim Center: 01103, 3, Zheleznodorozhnoye Highway, Kiev; ph.: +38044-383-0411).

If you want to visit Mount Athos you also need the special Athos visa – Diamonitirion (it is possible to issue through Athos monasteries). If you plan to visit St. Panteleimon Monastery you have to address to pilgrim service at the Farmstead of St. Panteleimon Monastery in Kiev (39/1 Shelkovichnaya St., Kiev; ph.: +38044-384-16-12, the nearest metro stations: "Palats sportu", "Klovskaya").

For Diamonitirion's registration you can address to Pilgrim bureau in Saloniki (The address and contacts: Department of delivery diamonitiriya to foreigners: 109, Egnatia Motorway, e-mail: piligrimsbureau@c-lab.gr, ph.: +30-23102-52-57-58 ph./fax: + 30-23102-22-424). The reference book for booking of places in monastic hotels for pilgrims to Athos, and also other phone numbers which will help you to carry out pilgrimage to Athos can be downloaded here.

In case of accident that happened with you or your relatives or your documents were lost or stolen, we recommend to address to Consulate of Ukraine in Saloniki: +30-2310-500-045, +30-694-805-07-02 (the last number is used in case of threat of life or death of citizens of Ukraine).

The "Panagiya" pilgrim service will help you to organize a pilgrim trip to Athos on individual route.

Assistance in the organization:

• Air flight Kiev –Saloniki – Kiev;

• A transfer the Airport – Uranupol – the Airport;

• Armor protection of hotels;

• Registration of the Schengen visa and Diamonitiriya.

Now the fund develops the program of a trip to Athos in March.