Mount Athos - where the time has stopped

PRIMEVAL · December 7th, 2012, 09:27 AM

Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site and autonomous polity in the Hellenic Republic, Athos is home to 20 stavropegial Eastern Orthodox monasteries under the direct jurisdiction of the patriarch of Constantinople.

The peninsula, the easternmost "leg" of the larger Halkidiki peninsula, protrudes 50 kilometres into the Aegean Sea at a width of between 7 and 12 kilometres and covers an area of 335.6 square kilometres.

The Mount Athos, situated at the end of the peninsula, has steep, densely forested slopes reaching up to 2,033 metres. The surrounding seas, especially at the end of the peninsula, can be dangerous.

Though land-linked, Mount Athos is practically accessible only by boat.

The daily number of visitors entering Mount Athos is restricted and all are required to obtain a special entrance permit valid for a limited period. Only males are allowed entrance into Mount Athos, which is called "Garden of the Virgin" by monks, and Orthodox Christians take precedence in the permit issuance procedure. Only males over the age of 18 who are members of the Eastern Orthodox Church are allowed to live on Athos, either as monks or as workers.

It is certain that monks have been there since the 4th century, and possibly since the 3rd. During Constantine I's reign (324–337) both Christians and pagans were living there.

After the Islamic conquest of Egypt in the 7th century, many orthodox monks from the Egyptian desert tried to find another calm place; some of them came to the Athos peninsula.

On a chrysobull of emperor Basil I, dated 885, the Holy Mountain is proclaimed a place of monks, and no laymen or farmers or cattle-breeders are allowed to be settled there.

The Byzantine Empire was conquered in the 15th century and the Ottoman Empire took its place. Russian tsars, and princes from Moldavia, Wallachia and Serbia (until the end of the 15th century) helped the monasteries survive with large donations. Many of the present buildings are erected by princes from Romanian principalities.

The Athonite monasteries possess huge deposits of invaluable medieval art treasures, including icons, liturgical vestments and objects (crosses, chalices), codices and other Christian texts, imperial chrysobulls, holy relics etc. Until recently no organized study and archiving had been carried out, but an EU-funded effort to catalogue, protect and restore them is under way since the late 1980s. Their sheer number is such, it is estimated that several decades will pass before the work is completed.

In use is Byzantine time, in which the day commences at sunset as does the liturgical day and not at midnight as in the reckoning of civil time and the difference between the two varies according to the season of the year.

All the monastic lodging types exist until today, named as seats, cells, huts, retreats, hermitages, caves, sketae and all of them are known under the general term "dependencies" of the Holy Monasteries.

A cell is a house with a small church, where 1–3 monks live under the spiritual and administrative supervision of a monastery. A skete is a community of Christian hermits following a monastic rule, allowing them to worship in comparative solitude, while also affording them a level of mutual practical support and security. There are two kinds of sketes in Mount Athos. ther4e are twelve sketes in Athos.

The sovereign monasteries, in the order of their place in the Athonite hierarchy:

1. Great Lavra monastery
2. Vatopedi monastery
3. Iviron monastery – built by Georgians
4. Helandariou monastery – Serbian
5. Dionysiou monastery
6. Koutloumousiou monastery (it was built by Wallachian princes in 14th century and inhabited by Romanian monks during middle age)
7. Pantokratoros monastery
8. Xiropotamou monastery
9. Zografou monastery – Bulgarian
10. Dochiariou monastery
11. Karakalou monastery
12. Filotheou monastery
13. Simonos Petras monastery
14. Agiou Pavlou monastery
15. Stavronikita monastery
16. Xenophontos monastery
17. Osiou Grigoriou monastery
18.Esphigmenou monastery
19. Agiou Panteleimonos monastery – Russian and Ukrainian
20. Konstamonitou monastery

The twelve sketes:

1. Agias Annas
2. Agias Triados
3.Timiou Prodromou
4. Agiou Andrea
5. Agiou Dimitriou
6. Timiou Prodromou Iviron
7. Agiou Panteleimonos
8. Profiti Ilia
8. Theotokou or Nea Skiti
10. Agiou Dimitriou tou Lakkou
11. Evangelismou tis Theotokou
12. Bogoroditsa

Settlements (a sort of villages)

- Karyes - the capital of the monastic republic
- Dafni - the main harbour and access point into the Mountain

PRIMEVAL · December 7th, 2012, 09:44 AM

Monastery of Simonos Petra

The Monastery of Simonos Petra, or more simply Simonopetra, is without doubt the most daring construction on the Holy Mountain. It stands proudly at a height of 330 metres on the end of a rocky mountain range.

The Monastery was founded by the Blessed Simon the Myrrhobletes around 1257, as a result of a vision.

December 7th, 2012, 09:27 AM	#1
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Mount Athos - where the time has stopped Mount Athos - where the time has stopped Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site and autonomous polity in the Hellenic Republic, Athos is home to 20 stavropegial Eastern Orthodox monasteries under the direct jurisdiction of the patriarch of Constantinople. The peninsula, the easternmost "leg" of the larger Halkidiki peninsula, protrudes 50 kilometres into the Aegean Sea at a width of between 7 and 12 kilometres and covers an area of 335.6 square kilometres. The Mount Athos, situated at the end of the peninsula, has steep, densely forested slopes reaching up to 2,033 metres. The surrounding seas, especially at the end of the peninsula, can be dangerous. Though land-linked, Mount Athos is practically accessible only by boat. The daily number of visitors entering Mount Athos is restricted and all are required to obtain a special entrance permit valid for a limited period. Only males are allowed entrance into Mount Athos, which is called "Garden of the Virgin" by monks, and Orthodox Christians take precedence in the permit issuance procedure. Only males over the age of 18 who are members of the Eastern Orthodox Church are allowed to live on Athos, either as monks or as workers. It is certain that monks have been there since the 4th century, and possibly since the 3rd. During Constantine I's reign (324–337) both Christians and pagans were living there. After the Islamic conquest of Egypt in the 7th century, many orthodox monks from the Egyptian desert tried to find another calm place; some of them came to the Athos peninsula. On a chrysobull of emperor Basil I, dated 885, the Holy Mountain is proclaimed a place of monks, and no laymen or farmers or cattle-breeders are allowed to be settled there. The Byzantine Empire was conquered in the 15th century and the Ottoman Empire took its place. Russian tsars, and princes from Moldavia, Wallachia and Serbia (until the end of the 15th century) helped the monasteries survive with large donations. Many of the present buildings are erected by princes from Romanian principalities. The Athonite monasteries possess huge deposits of invaluable medieval art treasures, including icons, liturgical vestments and objects (crosses, chalices), codices and other Christian texts, imperial chrysobulls, holy relics etc. Until recently no organized study and archiving had been carried out, but an EU-funded effort to catalogue, protect and restore them is under way since the late 1980s. Their sheer number is such, it is estimated that several decades will pass before the work is completed. In use is Byzantine time, in which the day commences at sunset as does the liturgical day and not at midnight as in the reckoning of civil time and the difference between the two varies according to the season of the year. All the monastic lodging types exist until today, named as seats, cells, huts, retreats, hermitages, caves, sketae and all of them are known under the general term "dependencies" of the Holy Monasteries. A cell is a house with a small church, where 1–3 monks live under the spiritual and administrative supervision of a monastery. A skete is a community of Christian hermits following a monastic rule, allowing them to worship in comparative solitude, while also affording them a level of mutual practical support and security. There are two kinds of sketes in Mount Athos. ther4e are twelve sketes in Athos. The sovereign monasteries, in the order of their place in the Athonite hierarchy: 1. Great Lavra monastery 2. Vatopedi monastery 3. Iviron monastery – built by Georgians 4. Helandariou monastery – Serbian 5. Dionysiou monastery 6. Koutloumousiou monastery (it was built by Wallachian princes in 14th century and inhabited by Romanian monks during middle age) 7. Pantokratoros monastery 8. Xiropotamou monastery 9. Zografou monastery – Bulgarian 10. Dochiariou monastery 11. Karakalou monastery 12. Filotheou monastery 13. Simonos Petras monastery 14. Agiou Pavlou monastery 15. Stavronikita monastery 16. Xenophontos monastery 17. Osiou Grigoriou monastery 18.Esphigmenou monastery 19. Agiou Panteleimonos monastery – Russian and Ukrainian 20. Konstamonitou monastery The twelve sketes: 1. Agias Annas 2. Agias Triados 3.Timiou Prodromou 4. Agiou Andrea 5. Agiou Dimitriou 6. Timiou Prodromou Iviron 7. Agiou Panteleimonos 8. Profiti Ilia 8. Theotokou or Nea Skiti 10. Agiou Dimitriou tou Lakkou 11. Evangelismou tis Theotokou 12. Bogoroditsa Settlements (a sort of villages) - Karyes - the capital of the monastic republic - Dafni - the main harbour and access point into the Mountain __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

December 7th, 2012, 09:44 AM	#2
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Monastery of Simonos Petra The Monastery of Simonos Petra, or more simply Simonopetra, is without doubt the most daring construction on the Holy Mountain. It stands proudly at a height of 330 metres on the end of a rocky mountain range. The Monastery was founded by the Blessed Simon the Myrrhobletes around 1257, as a result of a vision. image hosted on flickr Mt. Athos, Greece - Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra (Simonopetra) by ConstantineD, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Mt Athos - Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra (Simonopetra) by ConstantineD, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Mount Athos by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Simonopetra Monastery,Mount Athos by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Aegean view by olympic, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Άθως, Σιμωνόπετρα by Nikol@s.P, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Simonopetras Monestary-4 Mount Athos by the milk???, on Flickr image hosted on flickr AGION OROS-SIMONOPETRA by DIMOSTHENIS.limnos, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Simonopetra Monastery, Rila by mjordanhenn, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Simonopetra Monastery, Rila by mjordanhenn, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Simonopetra Monastery, Mt. Athos 0771 by consider this, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

December 7th, 2012, 09:53 AM	#3
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Athos Peak 2033 m image hosted on flickr The peaks of Mount Athos, far into the distance by Horia Varlan, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Mount Athos by phroumb, on Flickr image hosted on flickr The top of mountain Athos by mikes@r, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Вид с балкона монастыря Симонопетра by Monufsol, on Flickr image hosted on flickr IMG_1112_2 by Monufsol, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

December 7th, 2012, 10:08 AM	#4
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Gregoriou Monastery Founded in 14th century. The present church is built in 1500 by Stephen the Great, ruler of Moldavia, together with the watchtower and some cell buildings. image hosted on flickr Grigoriou by catalin vasile tudora, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Grigoriou Monastery,Mount Athos by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Monasterio de Osiou Grigoriou by DarMol, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Grigoriou by bogdan_budoiu, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Grigoriou Katholikon by catalin vasile tudora, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Grigoriou Monastery by catalin vasile tudora, on Flickr image hosted on flickr The Athos shore from Grigoiou by catalin vasile tudora, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Grigoriou Monastery,Mount Athos. by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

December 7th, 2012, 10:21 AM	#5
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Nea skete Hermitage image hosted on flickr Nea Skiti,Mount Athos. by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr nea Skete 2 by catalin vasile tudora, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others Last edited by PRIMEVAL; December 7th, 2012 at 10:42 AM.

December 7th, 2012, 10:34 AM	#6
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Agias Annas Hermitage image hosted on flickr Looking up toward St. Anne's skiti by Dr. Mike Caudle, on Flickr image hosted on flickr St. Anne's skiti on Athos by Dr. Mike Caudle, on Flickr image hosted on flickr A New Day Dawns Over the Aegean Sea by Dr. Mike Caudle, on Flickr image hosted on flickr God's Radiant Beauty by Dr. Mike Caudle, on Flickr image hosted on flickr St. Anne's Port on Athos by Dr. Mike Caudle, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Athos / Skiti Agias Annas (1973) by Proteus250245, on Flickr image hosted on flickr DSCF0130 by Alex Soldatov, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

December 7th, 2012, 10:57 AM	#7
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Agiou Pavlou Monastery Certified in 972, it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The watch tower was built by Wallachian ruler Nagoe Basarab (1512-1521), the aqueduct by church was built by Moldavian ruler Stephen the Great (late 15th century) and most of the buildings excepting the church (which dates from 1844) are a construction in marble financed by Wallachian rulers Matei Basarab (1632-1654) and Constantin Brâncoveanu (1688-1714). image hosted on flickr Pavlou Monastery,Mount Athos. by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr sf. Pavel - Muntele Athos by bogdan_budoiu, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Croisiere au pied du Mont Athos by Michel27, on Flickr image hosted on flickr St Paul, Athos by phroumb, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Pavlou Monastery,Mount Athos. by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Pavlou Monastery,Mount Athos. by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Pavlou Monastery,Mount Athos. by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

December 8th, 2012, 03:18 AM	#8
1772 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,233 Likes (Received): 34	Absolutely heartwarming. I love the fact that there are still sanctuaries from liberalism, marxism, modernism and postmodernism.

December 8th, 2012, 03:30 AM	#9
Linguine leisure cook Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bacolod Uptown East Posts: 10,059 Likes (Received): 1129	so beautiful photos from Mount Athos... __________________ *Bacolod:* "Culinary destination par excellence"

December 8th, 2012, 10:35 AM	#11
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Romanian Skete Prodromos The oldest records of Romanians in this place are from around 1750. Today is the main Romanian settlement in Athos. Initially, Koutloumousiou Monastery (now inhabited by Greek monks) was the main Romanian settlement in Athos, founded by Wallachian princes in 14th century. The building of the skete’s church began in 1857 and ended 1866. image hosted on flickr 10-schitul-prodromu-1 by Sfantul Nicolae Calinesti, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

December 8th, 2012, 10:46 AM	#12
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Karyes the village is the seat of the clerical and secular administration of the Athonite monastic state. The 2001 Greek census reported a population of 233 inhabitants. It is the largest settlement in Mount Athos. The major church at Karyes is the Protaton, which is the church of the Protos, or president of the monastic community. image hosted on flickr Karyes village by Paul Soulellis, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Untitled by kadj, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Karyes by kadj, on Flickr Dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin, the Protaton is a large triple-aisled basilica with narthex. Built in the 10th century it was repaired in the reign of Andronikos II Palaeologos (1282-1328). The wall-paintings (circa 1300) have been attributed to Manuel Panselinos; the artist, whoever he was, created a work that has gained world-wide acclaim in our time. The extraordinary abundance of painted scenes, free of all abstraction and featuring exquisite figures that come close to defining the quintessence of man, give superb material expression to the vision of Palaeologan art. image hosted on flickr Protaton,Karies-Mount Athos by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Protaton by divotaglia, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

December 8th, 2012, 11:23 AM	#13
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Dionysiou Monastery Ranks fifth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. The monastery was founded in the 14th century by saint Denys de Korisos, and it was named after him. The library of the monastery housed 804 manuscripts, and more than 4,000 printed books. The oldest manuscripts came from the 11th century. Today the monastery has a community of around 50 monks. The present church, watch tower and other structures were rebuilt by Neagoe Basarab, (ruler of Wallachia between 1512-1521). Although almost everywhere on the Western coast the landscapes are breathtaking, this monastery and the Athos peak behind it creates one of the most unforgetting sights. image hosted on flickr The Dionisiou Monastery in the distance by Dr. Mike Caudle, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Dionisiou Monastery by Dr. Mike Caudle, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Temoporary Grave Sites - Dionisiou by Dr. Mike Caudle, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Mount Athos and Dionisiou Monastery by Dr. Mike Caudle, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Mount Athos and Dionisiou Monastery by Dr. Mike Caudle, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Dionysiou monastery by Luke Buehler, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Dionysiou monastery by mjordanhenn, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Dionysiou monastery by Luke Buehler, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Dionysiou monastery by polis poliviou, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Μονή Διονυσίου by soulis49, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

December 9th, 2012, 03:09 PM	#14
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Dochiariou monastery It was founded in the 10th century. The monastery houses the icon of the Virgin "Gorgoypikoos" or "She who is Quick to Hear." The monastery ranks tenth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. The library holds 545 manuscripts, 62 of which are on parchment, and more than 5,000 printed books. Today Docheiariou has 30 working monks. Most of what we see today was built by a Alexandru Lăpușeanu, ruler of Moldavia in 1567: the church, which is the biggest in Athos (Lăpușneanu is painted with his family inside and mentioned in votive inscription), the watch tower, the walls and part of the cells. image hosted on flickr Dochiariu Monastery by marius_pirvu, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Μονή Δοχειαρίου by Nikol@s.P, on Flickr image hosted on flickr IMG_1916 by christakos, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Agion Oros 2005_07 by Cranmer, on Flickr image hosted on flickr P6040196 by k.kazantzoglou Life is full of surprises!!! , on Flickr image hosted on flickr ΜΟΝΗ ΔΟΧΕΙAΡΙΟΥ- ΑΓΙΟΝ ΟΡΟΣ by parisier, on Flickr image hosted on flickr 101_2950 by mikes@r, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Dohiariou Monastery,Mount Athos. by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Mount Athos - Monastery of Dochiariou by tg250607, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Dochiariou 1 by Tony Hirtenstein, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Xenofontos Monastery by Catalin_Dobrescu, on Flickr image hosted on flickr DSC04975 - by Χατζής Κώστας, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Story of a journey into Greece in seven stages - Stage Seven: Souls and spiritualities #2 - Dochiariou Monastery (explored) by stedef (Sweeper is ON), on Flickr image hosted on flickr Pèlerins français au Mont Athos by Orthodoxie.com, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

December 9th, 2012, 03:22 PM	#15
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Skete of Kafsokalývia The name comes from its founder, a hermit who used to change often its place and burn his hut before leaving (in Greek, his name means "hut burner"). Is one of the most isolated and spiritual places in Athos image hosted on flickr Skiti Kavsokalivia by steynard, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Skiti Kavsokalivia & Athos by steynard, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

December 9th, 2012, 03:32 PM	#16
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Skete of Karoulia The most isolated area on Mount Athos is known as Karoulia. Karoulia is located at the southernmost shore of Mount Athos on a rocky and very steep site. The hermit monks have built their huts inside caves, holes and rock protrusions. The name "karoulia" (pulleys) derives from the fact that in the old days supplies were delivered to the monks with pulleys. image hosted on flickr Athos, Where Going Home is Hard by Dr. Mike Caudle, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Rugged Athos Landscape by Dr. Mike Caudle, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Cliff dwellings on Athos by Dr. Mike Caudle, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

December 10th, 2012, 06:47 AM	#17
hypnotoad █ ▇ ▃ ▁ ▄ ▅ █ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ёνεиτ Ηοrιζōи Posts: 602 Likes (Received): 72	Truly amazing pictures! Thanks for sharing, PRIMEVAL! __________________ MY TRIP TO: MEXICO NOV-DEC/2012

December 15th, 2012, 03:13 PM	#18
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Thank you hypnotoad! Vatopedi Monastery Ranks second in Athonite hierarchy after the Great Lavra. Was founded during the second half of the 10th century. From then onwards, several buildings have been constructed, most of them were built during the Byzantine period and during the 18th and 19th centuries when the monastery reached its highest peak. Like most of the Athonite monasteries, many of the present buildings were erected by rulers form Romaniabn principalities: the fortified harbour is a foundation from 1496 of Stephen the Great of Moldavia. The prince's bas-relief can be seen on the votive inscription. Neagoe Basarab of Wallachia (early 16th century) built one of the churches, the cellar, the press house, the granaries. Alexandru Lăpușneanu and Vasile Lupu (rulers of Moldavia) have made too reparations and other donations. No less than 24 monasteries in Moldavia and Wallachia were subordinated to Vatopedi, the most famous being Golia in Iași, Slatina in Bukovina and Precista church in Galați. [info from crestinortodox.ro] Like most monasteries in Athos, Vatopedi looks like a small city because of the buildings unorderly added in several epochs and in various architectural styles. The library holds inestimable 2000 Byzantine manuscripts (like gospels from 9-13th centuries) and many other. About 100 monks live in the monastery today, where extensive construction projects are underway to restore the larger buildings. The monastery is open to males and male animals. No females may enter, except female cats are allowed and female animals the size of chickens or smaller are allowed. image hosted on flickr Vatopediou_Athos_ 21-Jul-2012_159 by James Hyndman, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Vatopedi Monastery,Mount Athos. by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Vatopedi Monastery by Catalin_Dobrescu, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Vatopedi Monastery Yard by Catalin_Dobrescu, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Vatopediou_Athos_ 21-Jul-2012_395 by James Hyndman, on Flickr image hosted on flickr DSC01728 by dennisnik, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Vatopedi Trapeza by catalin vasile tudora, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Vatopediou_Athos_ 21-Jul-2012_195 by James Hyndman, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Vatopedi Monastery,Mount Athos. by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Going to early morning Divine Liturgy. by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Vatopediou_Athos_ 21-Jul-2012_029 by James Hyndman, on Flickr Icon paintings and other religious handicrafts are one of the main earning sources. image hosted on flickr Vatopediou_Athos_ 21-Jul-2012_343 by James Hyndman, on Flickr Arsana (harbour) built in 1496 by Stephen the Great of Moldavia image hosted on flickr arsanas Vatopediou. by olympic, on Flickr Ruins of Athonite Academy (1754). On a hill near monastery are the 18th century ruins of the Athonite Academy, the most important learning institution in Greek lands in 18th-19th centuries. image hosted on flickr Vatopediou_Athos_ 21-Jul-2012_157 by James Hyndman, on Flickr image hosted on flickr DSC01708 by dennisnik, on Flickr Fish pool image hosted on flickr DSC01697 by dennisnik, on Flickr Painting showing the present buildings image hosted on flickr Limani_Ierissiou_Vatopediou_Athos_ 20-Jul-2012_050 by James Hyndman, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

December 15th, 2012, 03:33 PM	#19
Giorgio nsa fun Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne/Adelaide Posts: 10,608 Likes (Received): 36	Stunning images, what a beautiful location! __________________ Impeccable Greece - you'll be amazed

December 15th, 2012, 04:07 PM	#20
PRIMEVAL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10,159 Likes (Received): 2869	Yes Giorgio, is an unbelievable beautiful place, both the nature and the history being fabulous. Is a medieval world, the richest heritage of Byzantine architecture and art from anywhere, hung up on rocks on the most impressive Aegean peninsula. A better panorama of Vatopedi image hosted on flickr Vatoped by ljubar, on Flickr Zograf Monastery It was founded in the late 9th or early 10th century by three Bulgarians from Ohrid and is regarded as the historical Bulgarian monastery on Mount Athos, and is traditionally inhabited by Bulgarian Orthodox monks. During the Middle Ages, the monastery was generously supported by the Bulgarian rulers, such as Ivan Asen II and Ivan Alexander, since it was a matter of pride for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to maintain a monastery on Athos. The Zograf Monastery has also received land endowments by Byzantine (the first donor being Leo VI the Wise), Serbian, and Romanian rulers. The Zograf Monastery owns a library of major significance to Bulgarian culture, preserving medieval manuscripts such as a 15th century copy of the passional of Saint Naum of Ohrid, the 14th-century passional of Saint Paraskevi, the original draft of Paisius of Hilendar's Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya and the History of Zograf. The monastic library houses 388 manuscripts in Slavic and 126 in Greek. Zograf Peak on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after the Zograf Monastery. The monastery and its seal are depicted on the obverse of the Bulgarian 2 levs banknote, issued in 1999 and 2005. Tens of Romanian rulers have contributed with constructions, land and other kind of donations. Stephen the Great of Moldavia considered Zograf "his" Athonite monastery. He completely rebuilt it in 15th century since when date the present watch tower, arsana (harbour), church and its paintings, cells, refectory. Many illuminated books, tapestries, icons and other objects in monastery's treasure are also Stephen's donation, including the very battle flag of the voivod, which he used in many of his victorious battles against Ottomans, Tatars, Poland, Hungary and other (temporary) enemies. Also, an (supossedly miraculous) icon he took in the Battle of Vaslui and which was considered responsible for the victory in that battle. image hosted on flickr Zografou Monastery, Mount Athos by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr P6030178 by k.kazantzoglou Life is full of surprises!!! , on Flickr image hosted on flickr Zografou Monastery, Mount Athos by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Inside Zografou Monastery Catholic by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr image hosted on flickr mount athos 2 by deadbeatnymph, on Flickr 10th century icon of St. George image hosted on flickr Saint George by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr Fortified arsana (harbour) built by Stephen the Great in 15th century. Is the first medieval buildings tourists sailing to Athos seen on its shore. image hosted on flickr Arsana manastira Zograf by ljubar, on Flickr image hosted on flickr Zografou Monastery small port by DimitriS Photography, on Flickr __________________ Summary of Romania Photos Bucharest -my photos * Aerials of Romania * Nature of Romania * Danube Delta * Constanța * Brăila & Galați * Brașov __________________________ I support the autonomy of Székely Land. * I denounce the killing of animals for food, hunting, clothing and others

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