According to the history, the Virgin Mary traveled with Saint John the Evangelist to Cyprus. The moment that the ship was sailing into the peninsula of Mount Athos, it began to fill with water. Thus, the ship was forced to drop anchor in front of the Iveron monastery, as it is called nowadays. The Virgin immediately recognized the beauty and energy of the area and asked from Jesus to create her garden there. Suddenly a voice was heard saying, "Let this place be your heritage and your garden. A paradise for those who desire the salvation of the soul." From that moment, the mountain was named "Orchard of Holy Mary", was dedicated to the mother of Christ and all women were barred from entering.

In 50 AD., Halkidiki embraces Christianity with the arrival of the Apostle Paul. At the same time, Saint Peter the Athonite was anointed as first monk. It is said that during the 53 years of his ascetism, he didn’t meet anyone and after his death, his fragrant body attracted the next ascetics.

In 860 AD., the first monasteries are founded on Mount Athos. One near Ierissos and the other near arsana of M. Chiliandari by Ioannis Kolovos and Osios Vassilios respectively. In 885 AD., with one imperial gold bull and its golden seal, Basil I of Macedon, proclaims the Mount as a place exclusively for male monks. In this state of monks, in 934 AD., as a center of administrative responsibilities is defined the point that is now called Karyes. In 942 AD. the demarcation takes place between the monks and the Ierissians, with Libra being the natural border.

In 963 AD., the first, largest and most important Monastery of Great Lavras was built, with the support of the emperor Nikiforos Fokas. In an era of economic and religious development and Halkidiki to be part of the Byzantium, another 19 monasteries were built.

In 1748 AD., the Athoniada Academy was founded, which is a theological and philosophical school until today. In 1988 A.D., Mount Athos became UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its special value worldwide. As UNESCO characteristically mentions the Mount Athos is a huge wealth of history, religion, culture and art heritage. The calendar that the monks follow is the Julian, which differs by an extra 13 days from the Gregorian calendar, as well as the Byzantine hour.