Monte Athos e Stato del Vaticano: due enclave, due teocrazie. Analogie e differenze nell’evoluzione dei rapporti giuridici fra Stato e Chiesa in Italia e in Grecia

The reality of the autonomous, theocratic, monastic and self-administered republic of Mt. Athos is unmatched internationally, such as the Vatican City State is a State inside another State, in Greece and in Italy respectively. The difference with the Italian republic, however, is that the latter can be defined as an absolute elective monarchy, whose head is the Pope, also proclaimed “Sovereign” with “legislative, executive and judicial powers”. The SCV is acknowledged by the international community as a State where it’s able to exercise sovereign powers, and as a special institution from an international point of view: it’s considered, therefore, a non-territorial authority that doesn’t aspire to become a governing institution or to exercise power on a local community. Mt. Athos, on the other hand, isn’t represented internationally, since it completely depends on the Greek State, but has a self-administration system organized locally and structured on two different levels. As far as the administrative control exercised by the Greek State is concerned, there is a Governor on site, usually an ambassador appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who monitors the situation, avoiding administrative offences and ensuring that the Statutory Charter of Mt. Athos is followed by the administrative authorities. Meanwhile, the spiritual control has been entrusted to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople since the fourteenth century. Lastly, the Vatican City State can be accessed without a special permit – regarding St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican Museums and another small area, while the rest is closed to the public and the access is granted only with due practical motivations – by people of any sex and religion – since those working inside are lay people as well – whereas in Mt. Athos only orthodox monks can live, and the access is denied to every woman, without exception.