Being and Becoming a Monk on Mount Athos: An Ontological Approach to Relational Monastic Personhood in the “Garden of the Virgin Mary” as a Rite of Passage

Monastic life on Mount Athos, known as the 'Garden of the Virgin Mary,' is revealed as a transformative rite of passage that shapes relational personhood through ontological practices. This study uniquely integrates ethnographic fieldwork with theological discourse to demonstrate how monks' experiences of freedom and otherness—rooted in Christological thought—facilitate a deep, reciprocal relationship with both the divine and the material world. Unlike conventional studies, it positions theology as an active practice ('theoro,' or 'I-see-God') that bridges empirical observation and spiritual agency, showing how monks' daily routines and charismatic individuals collectively redefine monastic identity. The research underscores Mount Athos's landscape as a conduit of divine energy, where personal and ontological relations become indistinguishable, challenging conventional boundaries between the sacred and the secular.

Paganopoulos, M. (2020). Being and Becoming a Monk on Mount Athos: An Ontological Approach to Relational Monastic Personhood in the “Garden of the Virgin Mary” as a Rite of Passage. Open Theology, 6(1), 66–87. https://doi.org/10.1515/opth-2020-0008