Xenophontos monastery

Xenophontos monastery (Greek: Μονή Ξενοφώντος) is an Orthodox Christian monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece.

Xenophontos
Ξενοφώντος
External view of the monastery.
Location within Mount Athos
Monastery information
Full nameHoly Monastery of Xenophontos
Dedicated toSt. George
DioceseMount Athos
People
Founder(s)Saint Xenophon
PriorArchimadrite Elder Alexios
Site
LocationMount Athos, Greece
Coordinates40°14′45″N 24°11′25″E
Public accessMen only
Athos, panorama of Xenophontos monastery

It stands by the sea, on the western shore of the Athos peninsula. It was built in the tenth or eleventh century. The monastery is dedicated to St George and has 11 chapels inside and 6 outside. The main church was built just prior to the Greek Revolution of 1821 and is in the neo-classical style. It is perhaps the largest on Mt Athos and has perfect acoustics. A large cross is suspended above the inner sanctum and the choirs of the monks do some of the best traditional Byzantine chanting in the whole peninsula; Vatopedi and Gregioriou may be its only rivals. Abbot Alex is the leader as of 2015. Extensive renovations are being done with money provided by the Greek Government and the EC; many of the workers are from Albania and live nearby. The monastery ranks sixteenth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. The community has about 55 working monks. Most are Greek, with two senior monks being American.

The library contains c. 300 manuscripts and 4,000 printed books.

  • The new church
  • The old church
  • Courtyard

References
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