What “reviewed” means
A reviewed date means the Athon Editorial Team checked the page for a direct answer, source support, internal consistency, respectful language, working references, and appropriate pastoral limits. It does not claim that a priest, bishop, theologian, physician, or other outside specialist reviewed the page unless that person is explicitly named.
We do not publish anonymous claims of clerical approval. When qualified external review is added in the future, the reviewer’s name, relevant role, and scope of review should appear on the page with permission.
How we choose sources
For doctrine and worship, we prefer official material published by canonical Orthodox jurisdictions, bishops’ assemblies, seminaries, monasteries, and recognized ecclesial institutions. We use Scripture in context and distinguish biblical text from our explanation of it. Historical claims should be supported by primary texts or responsible scholarship where practical.
Parish directories and practical instructions can change, so readers should confirm service times, clergy, jurisdiction, language, and local practice with the parish itself. A source link is evidence for a claim; it is not an endorsement of every statement elsewhere on that website.
How we handle differences and comparisons
Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and Oriental Orthodox traditions should be described in terms their own members would recognize. We identify real agreements before disagreements, avoid treating one local example as universal, and separate dogma, theological opinion, historical development, jurisdictional practice, and popular custom.
Some matters remain pastorally or academically debated. In those cases, we should name the limit of certainty rather than manufacture a simple verdict for search traffic.
AI assistance and human accountability
Athon may use software and AI-assisted tools during research, drafting, editing, quality checks, or production. These tools are not clergy and do not carry editorial responsibility. Published claims remain Athon’s responsibility and should be checked against the cited sources, the page’s pastoral scope, and the standards stated here.
We do not present generated text as a quotation, invent source support, or use AI output as evidence for doctrine. A confident sentence is not a substitute for a trustworthy source.
Pastoral and safety boundaries
Online guides cannot know a reader’s health, family, parish, jurisdiction, sacramental history, or spiritual condition. Questions about reception into the Church, fasting rules, confession, Communion, prayer disciplines, marriage, or spiritual direction belong with a canonical Orthodox priest who knows the person and follows his bishop.
Medical, mental-health, legal, and crisis concerns require appropriately qualified help. Prayer and professional care are not rivals, and Athon content is not a diagnosis or emergency service.
Updates and corrections
We update pages when sources, practical information, internal links, or explanations need improvement. A material correction should change the reviewed or updated date. Minor typography and presentation fixes may not.
If you find a factual error, broken source, unfair description, or missing pastoral qualification, email contact@athonapp.com with the page URL, the passage in question, and a source that helps us evaluate it. We review the evidence before changing the page.