Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain

The Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain (Greek: Αυτόνομη Μοναστική Πολιτεία Αγἰου Όρους, Aftonomi Monastiki Politia Agíou Orous) is an autonomous republic of Orthodox monks inhabiting 20 monasteries and dependencies (skítes), The first monastery dates from 963 and the last was build in 1548. The capital is Karyaes (Kariaí). It's located at the famous peninsula Oros Athos, also known as "Holy Mountain" or "Garden of the Virgins" that extends from the coast of Macedonia into the Aegean Sea, in the northeast of Greece, a little south of Thessaloniki.

Women are not allowed in the Monastic State, even female domesticated animals are forbidden, with the exception of chickens who provide fresh egg yoke necessary for the paint in iconography.