At Mount Athos, where Dositheos stayed nine years, women are not permitted. At Holy Archangels, women are welcome as guests, though following Athonite tradition, they worship in a separate room in the chapel and cannot eat meals with the monks. The two-room chapel is adorned with icons, especially those of Archangels Michael and Gabriel, and the Glykophilousa, or the Virgin sweetly kissing the Christ child. In true monastery tradition, Holy Archangels practices the rule of hospitality, a tradition going back to Abraham. There are no visitors here, all are guests.
Meals are simple beans, onion and tomato salad with olive oil vinaigrette, fresh fruit and bread.
Men sit at a table separate from the monks and must maintain silence during the 20-minute meal as Bible passages are read in Greek. When the signal is given, the meal ends. The monks rise for prayer, then file silently out of the building, followed by their guests. In the afternoon, thick Greek coffee and kumi, a delicate pastry, are served. Others drop by during the week, some bringing gifts or donations.