Stavronikita

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Stavronikita Monastery

Moni Stavronikita ( Greek Μονή Σταυρονικήτα ) is an Orthodox monastery on the northeast coast of the Athos peninsula in Greece, which is in the immediate vicinity of the monasteries Iviron and Pantokratoros . In the ranking of the 20 major Athos monasteries, it takes 15th place.

history

There is no reliable information about the origin of the monastery; but there are some founding myths that try to explain the origins of the monastery. Allegedly the monastery was founded by two hermits named Stavros and Niketas. According to another legend, the founder of the monastery was an officer of the emperor Ioannes Tzimiskes (925–976) with the name Nikephoros Stravroniketas. However, neither this man nor this deed are historically certain. What is beyond doubt, however, is that the monastery already existed in the 11th century and was first mentioned in 1153 under the older name Stravonikétas, which means "the cross-eyed Nicetas". From this later the name Stavronikétas, the winner of the cross, developed. In the following decades the monastery became deserted and in 1287 was first subordinated to the Kutlumusiu monastery and later to the Philotheu monastery .

Only under the monk Gregorios Giromeriatis did a heyday begin again in the 16th century. For 4,000 silver coins, he bought the walls and began to rebuild the monastery. This was finally completed by his friend and patriarch Patriarch Jeremias I (1522–1546). Despite multiple fires in the following centuries, the newly built Katholikon and the wall paintings by the famous painter Theophanes escaped the flames.

While 219 monks still lived in the monastery at the beginning of the 20th century, the number fell rapidly and reached its low point in 1992 with only 33 hermits left. Similar to the other Athos monasteries, things have also improved there since then, so that in 2000 there were again 45 monks. According to the 2011 census, 39 residents were given.

Web links

Commons : Stavronikita monastery  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Andreas Müller: Mount Athos: History of a monastic republic . CH Beck, Munich 2005, ISBN 3-406-50851-0 , p. 104 .
  2. ^ Andreas Müller: Mount Athos: History of a monastic republic . CH Beck, Munich 2005, ISBN 3-406-50851-0 , p. 104-105 .
  3. ^ Andreas Müller: Mount Athos: History of a monastic republic . CH Beck, Munich 2005, ISBN 3-406-50851-0 , p. 113 .
  4. ↑ Results of the 2011 census at the National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΛ.ΣΤΑΤ) (Excel document, 2.6 MB)

Coordinates: 40 ° 16 ′ 4.8 ″  N , 24 ° 16 ′ 36.4 ″  E