In the Middle Ages numerous monasteries were built here, that is why the place was called the ‘Holy Mountain’. As a major Orthodox spiritual centre Mount Athos gained its independence from the political power as early as Byzantine times (in 1054). The medieval-time prohibition for women and children to step in this place is still in force. Now some 1,400 monks from the entire Orthodox world live in the roughly 20 monasteries.
For centuries on end the monasteries of Athos maintained relationships with all Orthodox countries, influencing strongly their spiritual and cultural life. As an acknowledged artistic center with a famous school of painting “The Holy Mountain” of Athos was of major importance for the development of Orthodox art.