Athos is governed by the "Sacred Community" (Ιερά Κοινότητα – Hiera Koinotēta) which consists of the representatives of the 20 Holy Monasteries, having as executive committee the four-membered "Sacred Administration" (Ιερά Επιστασία – Hiera Epistasia), with the Protos (Πρώτος) being its head, while the current Protos or more correctly "Protepistátēs" is the Elder Symeon Dionysiates.