Vigla, Mount Athos Explained

Vigla
Name Local:	Βίγλα
Coordinates:	40.1347°N 24.3731°W
Elevation:	264
Periph:	Mount Athos

Vigla (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Βίγλα) is a settlement in Mount Athos. It is located at the southeastern edge of the Athos peninsula.^[1]

The settlement of Vigla on the southeastern tip of the Athonite peninsula is not to be confused with Megali Vigla, a 510 metre-high peak within the Mount Athos monastic territory that is less than 1.5 km from the border with Greece.^[2]

Sites

The Skete of Prodromos, which belongs to the Great Lavra, is located in Vigla.

The Cave of St. Athanasius the Athonite is located on the cliffside of Vigla.^[3] The cave was also where Saint Joseph the Hesychast (born Francis Kottis) took the name Joseph as he meditated there.^[4]

The Cave of the Birth of Jesus is also located in the Vigla area. Osios Theodoros lived there as an ascetic and hermit.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Βίγλα ΑΓΙΟ ΟΡΟΣ, Δήμος ΑΓΙΟ ΟΡΟΣ (Αυτοδιοίκητο) . buk.gr . 2022-06-09.
2. Book: Della Dora, Veronica. Landscape, Nature, and the Sacred in Byzantium. Cambridge. 2016. 978-1-316-48838-6. 938434170. 159.
3. Book: Lilios, Loukas K.. Mount Athos: Pilgrimage to "The Garden of Virgin Mary". Vlachoutsakou. 2017. Konstantina. Lilios Publishers. Livadia. 978-618-81848-6-2.
4. The Holy Elder Joseph the Hesychast, I.M. of Timios Prodromos Mesa Potamos, p. 23