A few days before the feast of the Nativity of Christ, which Mount Athos celebrates according to the Old Calendar, namely on January 7, significant snowfall occurred.
Karyes, the Athonite capital at an altitude of 1,150 feet, received over 2 feet of snow, while higher areas received over 3 feet.
Two days before Christmas, the roads on the Holy Mount were blocked due to the heavy snowfall, forcing pilgrims to remain inside monasteries and hermitages.
The consecutive snowstorms of the last several weeks created a magical Christmas atmosphere all across the Athos peninsula, with some of the monasteries shrouded in snow exceeding one meter in depth.
Photography courtesy of John Sanidopoulos blog
