The Monastery of Xenofontos

Partial view

The Monastery of Xenofontos is located at the south-western part of the Athos peninsula and was built in 1010 by the monk Xenofon. After the fall of Constantinople, the monastery was alternatively destroyed and rebuilt with the financial aid from the rulers of eastern Europe.

It occupies the sixteenth rank in the hierarchical order of the twenty Athonite monasteries. It is coenobitic (communal) and is inhabited by 57 monks (1990).

The monastery of Xenofontos features two katholika. The original, near the entrance of the monastery, dedicated to the memory of Saint George, was built in the 16th century and features frescoes of the Cretan School. The new was restored between the years 1817-1837 and is the largest of all the katholika of the Holy Mountain. Next to the new katholikon is the Phiale for the blessing of the waters.

The monastery features eight chapels inside its precinct and six outside. These which are lying inside the monastery are St. Euphemia, Saints Kosmas and Damian, the Dormition of the Virgin, Saint John the Theologian, the Presentation of the Virgin, Saint Lazaros and Saint Stephen. The last two chapels are within the katholikon.

The monastery’s library houses 300 manuscripts and 4,000 printed boooks.

The bell tower

Interior view

Monks are going to the church

The old katholikon (main church)

The cells of the monks

Partial view at the sunset

Fresco in front of the refectory

A fresco on the external wall of the old katholikon