Publications
Long Term Post-Fire Vegetation Dynamics in North-East Mediterranean Ecosystems. The Case of Mount Athos Greece
A 30-year study on Mount Athos, Greece, reveals that post-fire vegetation recovery varies significantly between forest and maquis communities. While forests recover quickly, maintaining their structure and composition, maquis communities require several years to regain pre-fire characteristics due to the region's dry climatic conditions. The research employed field data collection, TWINSPAN for plant community identification, CART for distribution analysis, and NDVI from Landsat images for long-term monitoring. This study underscores the need for wildfire control measures in the face of climate change, which is expected to exacerbate drought conditions in the north-east Mediterranean region.
Risk, faith and religious tourism in Second Modernity: visits to Mount Athos in the COVID-19 era
Religious tourism destinations, such as Mount Athos, exhibit remarkable resilience to global health risks like the COVID-19 pandemic. This study highlights how pilgrims and visitors adapted their behavior despite heightened health concerns, underscoring the enduring significance of faith-driven travel even in times of crisis. Using a questionnaire-based approach, researchers analyzed respondents' attitudes toward faith, socio-cultural backgrounds, and preferences for past and future visits. The findings challenge narratives of vulnerability in 'Risk Society' and 'Second Modernity,' demonstrating that religious motivations can outweigh health-related deterrents. This research contributes to understanding the interplay between risk perception and spiritual tourism in contemporary society.
Assessing Wildfire Risk in Cultural Heritage Properties Using High Spatial and Temporal Resolution Satellite Imagery and Spatially Explicit Fire Simulations: The Case of Holy Mount Athos, Greece
Nine out of the 20 monasteries on Holy Mount Athos, Greeceface high fire intensity risks if ignited, despite low burn probabilities. This finding emerges from a study that combined high-resolution satellite imagery with spatially explicit fire simulations to assess wildfire risk at landscape level. Researchers developed site-specific fuel models using field measurements and classified fuel types through object-based analysis and machine learning. The Minimum Travel Time (MTT) algorithm in FlamMap software evaluated metrics like Burn Probability, Conditional Flame Length, Fire Size, and Source-Sink Ratio. Results highlight the need for targeted fire suppression strategies to protect these cultural heritage properties from intense wildfires.
Mount Athos and Byzantine Monasticism
Mount Athos stands as a pivotal pillar of Orthodox Christianity and Byzantine history. Its monastic communities, established early on, wielded significant spiritual, political, and economic influence that extended beyond the Byzantine Empire's borders. The site's archives and libraries preserve an unparalleled body of Byzantine documentation, art, and archaeology, offering invaluable insights into a lost era. This volume, derived from the 28th Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies, synthesizes international research on Athos, exploring diverse aspects such as asceticism, authority, economy, spirituality, and more. Through meticulous investigation of its archives and artifacts, scholars have uncovered substantial evidence that illuminates the complex phenomenon of Byzantine monasticism, providing a comprehensive view of this influential institution's role in shaping Orthodox Christianity.
Management of Living Religious Heritage: Who Sets the Agenda? The Case of the Monastic Community of Mount Athos
Heritage management at Mount Athos reveals that top-down decision-making by monastic authorities often sidelines heritage professionals. KEDAK, the agency tasked with preserving Athonite heritage, operates under strict control of the monasteries, leading to compromises in professional expertise. The study highlights tensions between expert-driven and community-based approaches, demonstrating how religious authority can dominate heritage conservation processes.
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