Elective Affinities: Papal and Regal Privileges for Mount Athos and the Holy Mountain’s Relationship with the Medieval West

A new perspective on Mount Athos reveals that papal and western rulers played significant, often non-hostile roles in its history, challenging the perception of the Holy Mountain as solely a bastion of Orthodoxy opposed to church union. The study analyzes previously overlooked charters from Latin Christian potentates and prelates, applying the concept of interreligious founding to nuance the understanding of Byzantine and Latin religious patronage. While Athonite archives predominantly feature Byzantine and Orthodox rulers' charters, this research highlights periods where Mount Athos sought protection from Western figures, contributing fresh insights into its complex medieval relationships.

Chitwood, Z. (2023). Elective Affinities: Papal and Regal Privileges for Mount Athos and the Holy Mountain’s Relationship with the Medieval West. Endowment Studies, 7(1), 44–69. https://doi.org/10.1163/24685968-20230003