The elders of Mount Athos and the discourse of charisma in modern Greece

Mount Athos monk elders have emerged as influential figures in modern Greek society, their charisma shaping religious discourse and serving as symbols of cultural resistance. This influence has grown significantly since the 1980s, particularly during economic crises, positioning these elders as embodiments of alternative economies of desire and collective fantasies of power and pleasure. The study employs a theoretical framework rooted in symbolic anthropology and Lacanian theory to analyze this phenomenon, revealing how gerontismos (elderism) functions as a potent form of religious discourse in contemporary Greece.

Psaltou, S. (2018). The elders of Mount Athos and the discourse of charisma in modern Greece. Critical Research on Religion, 6(1), 85–100. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050303218757321