Ktetor

Frescoe of Stefan Dečanski at Dečani monastery holding a small monastery in his hands; this signifies that he is the ktitor of the monastery.

A ktetor (Greek: κτήτωρ) or ktitor (Cyrillic: Ктитор; Georgian: ქტიტორი; Romanian: ctitor) is someone who provides the funds for construction or reconstruction of an Orthodox church or monastery, for the addition of icons, frescos, and other works of art. A Catholic equivalent of the term is a donator. The female form is ktetorissa (Greek: Κτητόρισσα) or ktitoritsa (Bulgarian: Ктиторица).