R Religion in the MR

• The Autocephalous Orthodox Monastic Church of the Holy Mountain
  • The Orthodox faith is the national Church of the Monastic Republic.
  • The three towns each have an Orthodox church; in Aktí, St. Helen’s; in Prosforion, St. Philip’s; and in Ammouliani, St. Marina’s.
  • There is a convent of cloistered Orthodox nuns in Aktí. They earn a living by baking communion bread for the parishes. They also do mending and alterations. They embroider and make the patches for the MR gendarmery and the Junior Seaguards. They also do lace work and are often called upon by brides to help with their bridal gowns.
  • The priests of Prosforion and Aktí take turns celebrating Mass for the sisters.
  • The village and the gendarmery post have an Orthodox chapel, Our Lady of Mt. Athos and the Centurion respectively, for the benefit of the lay workers.
• The Catholic Church
  • The three towns each have a Maronite Catholic Church; in Akti, St. Ephrem; in Prosforion, St. Nohra; and in Ammouliani, St. Nimatullah.
  • The Catholic parishes are a part of the abbacy nullius of St. Maroun.
  • Three diocesan priests are assigned to care for the Catholic citizens and the Catholic tourists.
  • Should one of the priest be incapacitated, one of the Maronite priests of St. Maroun will be asked to fill in.
  • The priests of Prosforion and Aktí take turns celebrating Mass for the sisters in the hospital.
• The salaries of the pastors of these churches is paid by the government.
• The money received in collections during the Divine Liturgy is used for charitable causes.