Iviron

Iviron

External view of the monastery.
Location within Mount Athos
Monastery information
Full name Monastery of Iviron
Order formerly Georgian Orthodox Church
now Patriarchate of Constantinople
Established between 980-983 AD
Dedicated to Dormition of the Theotokos
People
Founder(s) John the Iberian and Tornikios
Prior Archimandrite Elder Nathanael
Important associated figures George of Athos, Tornikios, John the Iberian, Euthymius of Athos
Site
Location Greece Mount Athos, Greece
Coordinates 40°14′44″N 24°17′05″E / 40.2455°N 24.2848°E / 40.2455; 24.2848
Public access Men only

Monastery of Iviron or Iveron (Georgian: ივერთა მონასტერი, iverta monast'eri; Greek: Μονή Ιβήρων, Monḗ Ibḗrōn) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in northern Greece.

History

The monastery was built under the supervision of two Georgian monks, John the Iberian and Tornike Eristavi between 980-983 and housed Georgian clergy and priests.[1] Iveron literally means "of the Iberians" in Greek. The name Iviron originated from the ancient Georgian Kingdom of Iberia (Iveria) where the master architect of the monastery Ioannes was from.

The monastery ranks third in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. The monastery library contains 2,000 manuscripts, 15 liturgical scrolls, and 20,000 books in Georgian, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin.

The monastery has the relics of more canonized saints than any other on Mount Athos. The Panagia Portaitissa, a famous 9th century icon, is also located at Iviron.

The monastery has about 30 working monks and novices, none of whom are Georgian. However, there are forty or so Georgian hermits living in hermitages near the monastery.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ The mind of the Orthodox Church, Vlachos, Hierotheos.
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