Union of Orthodox Journalists Launches Athonite Bureau

April 4, 2024—The Union of Orthodox Journalists officially launches bureau on the Holy Mountain of Athos, one of the most revered centers of Orthodox monasticism. Alongside the new branch, known as Ένωση Ορθοδόξων Δημοσιογράφων, an Athonite bureau website (https://athoseod.gr) has been launched, with accompanying social media platforms soon to follow.

Mount Athos is home to 20 major monasteries, but much of its monastic life takes place in remote dwellings known as kelia (cells). These isolated cells are inhabited by kelliotes, whose numbers—around 1,300—outnumber those living in the main monasteries, bringing the total monastic population of Athos to approximately 2,000.

The new UOJ office aims to amplify the voices of both monastic communities: those in the large monasteries and the kelliotes. Through articles and multimedia content, readers will gain insight into the daily lives and spiritual wisdom of the Athonite brotherhood, as well as their reflections on broader developments in the Orthodox world.

On November 21, 2024, the UOJ registered a new legal entity in the European Union—granting its journalists an improved legal status over that in Ukraine. This latest expansion on the Holy Mountain follows the opening of UOJ branches in Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Albania, Serbia, and the United States. It is part of a larger initiative to support canonical Orthodoxy and foster unity among Orthodox Christians across national boundaries. Additional international branches are planned in the near future.

Originally posted by UOJ's Ukrainian Bureau.

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