MOUNT ATHOS ( Αὐτόνομη Μοναστικὴ Πολιτεία Ἁγίου Ὄρους )

Mount Athos (Greek: Άθως/  Áthos) is a mountain and peninsula in northeastern Greece and an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism. It is governed as an autonomous polity within the Greek Republic. Mount Athos is home to 20 monasteries under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

Mount Athos is commonly referred to in Greek as the Agion Oros (Greek: Ἅγιον Ὄρος, romanized: Ágion Óros, lit. 'Holy Mountain'), and the entity as the "Athonite State" (Αθωνική Πολιτεία, Athonikí Politía). Other languages of Orthodox tradition also use names translating to "Holy Mountain", including Bulgarian and Serbian (Света гора, Sveta gora); Russian (Святая гора, Svyataya gora); and Georgian (მთაწმინდა, mtats’minda). In the classical era, while the mountain was called Athos, the peninsula was known as Acté or Akté (Koinē Greek: Ἀκτή). 

Mount Athos has been inhabited since ancient times and is known for its nearly 1,800-year continuous Christian presence and its long historical monastic traditions, which date back to at least AD 800 and the Byzantine era. Today, over 2,000 monks from Greece and many other countries, including Eastern Orthodox countries such as Romania, Moldova, Georgia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Russia, live an ascetic life in Athos, isolated from the rest of the world. The Athonite monasteries feature a rich collection of well-preserved artifacts, rare books, ancient documents, and artworks of immense historical value, and Mount Athos has been listed as a World Heritage site since 1988.

Although Mount Athos is legally part of the European Union like the rest of Greece, the Monastic State of the Holy Mountain and the Athonite institutions have a special jurisdiction which was reaffirmed during the admission of Greece to the European Community (precursor to the EU). This empowers the Monastic State's authorities to regulate the free movement of people and goods in its territory; in particular, only males are allowed to enter. The peninsula, the easternmost "leg" of the larger Chalkidiki peninsula in central Macedonia, protrudes 50 kilometres (31 mi) into the Aegean Sea at a width of between 7 and 12 kilometres (4.3 and 7.5 mi) and covers an area of 335.6 square kilometres (129.58 sq mi). The actual Mount Athos has steep, densely forested slopes reaching up to 2,033 metres (6,670 ft). The surrounding seas, especially at the end of the peninsula, can be dangerous. In ancient Greek history two fleet disasters in the area are recorded: In 492 BC Darius, the king of Persia, lost 300 ships under general Mardonius. In 411 BC the Spartans lost a fleet of 50 ships under admiral Epicleas.

Though land-linked, Mount Athos is practically accessible only by ferry. The Agios Panteleimon and Axion Estin travel daily (weather permitting) between Ouranoupolis and Dafni, with stops at some monasteries on the western coast. There is also a smaller speed boat, the Agia Anna, which travels the same route, but with no intermediate stops. It is possible to travel by ferry to and from Ierissos for direct access to monasteries along the eastern coast. The number of daily visitors to Mount Athos is restricted, and all are required to obtain a special entrance permit valid for a limited period. Only men are permitted to visit the territory, which is called the "Garden of Virgin Mary" by the monks, with Orthodox Christians taking precedence in permit issuance procedures. Residents on the peninsula must be men aged 18 and over who are members of the Eastern Orthodox Church  either monks or workers.

A Russian post office was established at Karyai in the last years of the 19th century. The post office used Russian stamps for the Levant. A series of stamps overprinted "Mont-Athos" was issued in 1910. In accordance with the agreement concluded by the Hellenic Postal Service with the Holy Kinot of Mount Athos in May 2008, postage stamps are issued for use in the two post offices located in Mount Athos, in Karyai, the seat of administration, and in the port of Dafni at the foot of the mountain.

Now, Greek post is responsible for the postal services to Mount Athos, including issuance of postage stamps. Every year Hellenic post issuing postage stamps in the names of Mount Athos, it can be purchased from their official website.

This is my first cover from the special and rarest place called Mount Athos, an Autonomous region in Greece. This is a mountainous Island and part of Greece and European Union, but free movement of goods and people are restricted. They have own postal system and stamps but currency is Euro/Greek Currency. Mr. Radim from Czech republic helped me to send back these coversby the  help of a Monk. The covers posted on June 29,2015 and received them on July 03, 2015.