Mt Athos Pilgrimage

Dear Theofilos,

Thank you for a wonderful trip to Holy Mountain October 1-16, 2009. What a pleasure it was, once I met you at the airport, to see the enthusiasm & happiness you had in you to share your knowledge of the Holy Mountain with me.  Your knowledge of where to go, how to get there and what to see is unbelievable.

More important than your knowledge of the mountain are you extensive contacts on the mountain. The many people who know you on the Holy Mountain made our trip more meaningful and insightful. When you show up, arms seem to open and anyone with you gets taken and welcomed as family with your life long friendships. This genuine warmth is not extended to pilgrims traveling by themselves on a trip such as this.

I can't stress enough how pleasurable this trip was with Theo as our guide. We had five people on our journey, none of which I knew before, but we all had just a wonderful  experience together.

Thank you again Theo for a truly memorable experience.

Dr. Nicholas W. Rotas

"After investigating the possibility of going to Mount Athos on my own, and becoming completely frustrated, God sent me to Theofilos Russos. The only way to experience Mount Athos is to go with Theo, especially for the first time-pilgrim. With Theo you don't have to worry about any of the  logistics, language barriers, red tape, transportation or any other problems that he handles. Instead you can focus on the real reason that you are going to Athos. Theo knows all the "ins'" and "outs" of Mount Athos and we were able to see more in 10 days then I ever imagined possible. I would highly recommend going to Mount Athos, and ever more highly recommend going with Theofilos Russos."

Jeremy Riney
Manton, Ca

I have had the great honor of being with Theofilos Russos for 7 pilgrimages to the Holy Mountain of Athos.

Words cannot describe what incredible  experiences these pilgrimages are.

 Theofilos has stayed at all of the Holy Monasteries, and many of the monks are his personal friends.

He has been to the Holy Mountain over 100 times.  As a result, you are privileged to see things that many visitors are unable to.

It is a blessing when  you go with Theofilos because you have the opportunity to stay longer than the three nights on the Holy Mountain which are normally awarded to a pilgrim.

Theofilos is a joy, a true Greek treasure.

He is one of the kindest, most gentle men that I know, and it is my honor to call him my friend.

"Thank you Theofilos for the most incredible two weeks. I have visited many holy sites, but this was a pilgrimage of a lifetime. The Holy Mountain is indeed a place between heaven and earth. It has changed my perception of the world; it has changed my life. Glory Be to God. "

Dr. David Hetzel

"What would make for the ideal pilgrimage to a holy place like Mount Athos? It would be to go in the company of a man who had been there countless times since his youth; who knew not just the holy places but the holy men; a man who was himself known and loved on that holy mountain. This is the pilgrimage one takes with Theofilos Russos."

Rev. Joseph
Orthodox Priest

"The trip for me was life changing; it truly was. We saw things we never would have experienced were it not for Theofilos' knowledge and contacts on the Holy Mountain. They are what makes going to the Holy Mountain with Theofilos (versus going on your own) the better way to go (and this was my second trip to the Holy Mountain). "

Kevin Allen

"In the spring of 2005, four men from the Antiochian Orthodox parish of St. Barnabas, where I serve as the assistant priest, announced plans to make a pilgrimage later that year to Holy Mt. Athos in Greece. I was delighted and greatly surprised when they announced that they had made arrangements for me to go with them. The leader of our tour was to be our good friend Theoflos Russos of Russos Imports in Huntington Beach

Few people know Mt. Athos better than Theofilos. He has been making pilgrimages to the Holy Mountain most of his life and knows all the monasteries and many of the monks and abbots there very well. This would prove to be invaluable to us. Although the monasteries are used to seeing many visitors each year and provide gracious hospitality for them all, there is nothing quite as enjoyable as traveling there with a man that the monks are comfortable with and consider a good friend. Theo's "insider" status got our group access to many areas that most pilgrims would not be aware of, or necessarily be invited to see. We saw many holy places and sacred relics, met many wonderful monks, and were treated like family rather than mere visitors. It was a truly blessed experience. 

Theo's tours are far-ranging, visiting several monasteries and exposing you to a great deal of the Athos life and environment. This is especially valuable for the first-time visitor as it provides a superb "overview" of Athos and allows you to discover which particular monasteries you may wish to revisit in future trips. Even experienced travelers will benefit from a tour with Theofilos, not only because of his wealth of experience, but also because Theo himself is a true "Lover of God" and an inspiration to travel with through such holy places. He is also an excellent tour leader, taking the time to speak with each member of his group daily to make certain each individual's needs are being met and that all are enjoying and benefiting from the pilgrimage.

I can highly recommend Mr. Theofilos Russos as your guide on your next pilgrimage to Mount Athos. I know you will have a spiritually rewarding time and, like me, will anxiously await your next opportunity to return to the Holy Mountain on another tour with Theo."

Fr. Michael Reagan
St. Barnabas Antiochian Church
Costa Mesa, CA

"Here I have my thoughts. I think of Mt Athos every day, some day I wish to go back there."

Gene Noterman