It is of limited and rare production resulting in from the exceptional combination of hard labour and patience of monks with the unique climate of the region. The olives are harvested by hand and carried in sacks and baskets by the monks on their backs to the mules so as to be transported to the oil mill. The trees are watered when it rains since there is only one water spring to fulfill the monks’ needs. The monks have to make supernatural effort for the cultivation of the centuries-old olive trees. Beside that, they have planted many new olive trees in their effort to control the wilderness of the place with the help of our Holy Mother of God.
The valuable olive oil produced in this specific area is preserved in dark bottles. The profits will be spent on the restoration of the Holy Cell of the Assumption of Holy Mother of God, which was built 400 years ago. The restoration of the Holy Cell is supported mainly by this income. Τhe two monks who live there, explained that the Holy Cell was depopulated in 1972 and after some time it collapsed. The small olive grove is estimated to have been planted around 1600 AD, approximately the time the Holly Cell was founded. When, ten years ago, the two monks were granted the Holy Cell and its territory, there were 80 olive trees. Since then, they have planted themselves many new olive trees because olive oil is of the most important products on Mount Athos.
HONEY
