Megistis Lavras
Great Lavra is the earliest and biggest foundation on Mount Athos, founded in 963 by monk Athanasios and this event marks the change-over on Athos from the individual ascethic life to organized monasticim. The chosen site for the monastery was probably th
Nearest items
St. Paul lies beside a rushing torrent on the western tip of the cape, about 20 minutes walk above it\'s port.
Tradition has it that the first foundation was that of the Roman Emperor Caracalla( 212-217), after whom it was named.
founded in the last quarter of the 10th century.
It\'s built on a narrow and precipitous neck of rock, 80 meters above the sea and is situated on the SW side of the peninsula between monasteries of Gregoriou and St Paul.
On its present site Gregoriou was built in the 14th century, but it is not known what existed there formerly.
The monastery of Iveron is situated above a picturesque inlet on the north-eastern side of the peninsula, close to the site of the earlier lavra of St Clement.
The seven-storied monastery of Simonopetra is the most daring building of the Holy Mountain and a marvel of monastic architecture. The monastery was founded by Saint Simon who lived on Mount Athos about the middle of the 13th century.
Stavronikita is built on a levelled headland above the sea, approximately in the centre of the north-east shore of the peninsula.
The monastery Koutloumousiou is situated very close to Karyes, the "capital-city" of the Mount Athos community. First time it was mentioned in a paper from 1169 and from 14th century on it existes in the shape we see today.
Pantokrator is built on a headland lashed by the stormy waters of the north-east side of the peninsula.
Karies is the so called "capitol city" of the monks republic of Athos. It is the seat of the Protós (the First), to the spiritual leader of all monasteries of the monk\'s republic which is elected by the meeting of the abbots in each case on lifetime.
Dafni is the main harbour of Mount Athos. Once a day, after the ship from Ouranoupolis has arrived, there is a bus to Karyes, the capitol-city.
Xeropotamou occupies a prominent ridge in the middle of the peninsula above the road from Daphne to Karyes.
Dedicated to St.Panteleimon, this monastery is also known as ton Rosson(of the Russians), the coenobium of the Kallimachides or simply Roussikon.
An Orthodox spiritual centre since 1054, Mount Athos has enjoyed an autonomous statute since Byzantine times. The Holy Mountain, which is forbidden to women and children, is also a recognized artistic site.
The monastery of Xenophontos was probably established in the tenth century. It is built on a low hill close to the sea, between monasteries of Docheiariou and St Panteleimon.
Tradition says that the monastery was founded in the second half of the 12th century by Euthymios, supposedly a disciple of St Athanasios. He was docheiares at Great Lavra, that is to say he was in charge of oil and other foodstuffs there.
The monastery of Vatopedi is the second oldest monastery on Athos (year 972)
One of the most picturesquely sited monastery on the Holy Mountain, hidden from the sea in the depths of a green forest above the Singitic Gulf.
The monastery of Zographou lies on the top of a rise, tucked into a woody fold, hidden from the sea. According to tradition Zographou was founded in the 19th century, during the reign of the Emperor Leo VI the Wise, by three brothers, all monks, who came