Monasteries of Mount Athos

The Holy Monastery of Iviron, third in the hierarchy of Athonite monasteries, was founded around 979-980 by Georgian (Iberian) monks of aristocratic descent; headed by John, son of Euthymius and the military officer John Tornikios, it was built on the site of the ruined ancient monydrion of Clement, in which, according to tradition, St. Peter the Athonite was buried in the mid-9th century. Tornikios was closely associated with Emperor Basil II (976-1025), who asked his help in suppressing general Bardas Skleros (976-979). Tornikios responded positively to the imperial request and went to Constantinople, thus contributing to the elimination of Bardas. He was generously rewarded by the emperor for his help, who also consented to his plan to establish a monastery for the Iberians on Mount Athos. Upon the return of Tornikios from Constantinople, the new Iviron monastery was founded on the site of the old monastery of Clement in 979-980. 

The Iberian ktetors repaired the pre-existing buildings, reconstructed the old katholikon of the Clement monastery (Chapel of St. John the Baptist), and new buildings were also erected, such as the katholikon, etc. In addition, they retained the name “Clement Monastery” for their establishment until at least 1015, when the first mention of the “Iviron monastery” appears in written references.  

In the two-storey church of St. John the Baptist, built on the site of the katholikon of the monastery of Clement, the lower level has a funerary character, as is presumed from the nine built tombs and the Deesis representation of the late 10th century at the holy altar (these are the oldest wall paintings known to date on Athos). The church was repaired in Byzantine times (probably in the 13th century), as recent work of our Ephorate has shown (within the framework of the NSRF 2014-2020), and underwent major reconstruction in 1710 with its transformation into a cross-in-square church and the uplift of the masonry; it also underwent restoration at the beginning of the 20th century.  

Built by the sea, the monastery has all the characteristics of an Athonite fortified, enclosed complex with four rectangular wings defining a spacious courtyard. The katholikon dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin dominates, along with the two significant chapels of Panagia Portaitissa (Keeper of the Gate) and St. John the Baptist (the Forerunner). In the wings of the precinct there are chapels, the synod building, the sacristy, the monastic cells, the dorter and other auxiliary spaces. The largest part of the wings was reconstructed in the 19th century on the site of older buildings.

Like almost all Athonite monasteries, the monastery flourished during the 16th century with the support of the rulers of the Danubian Principalities. The scholar abbot Gabriel contributed to the decoration of the katholikon at the end of the 16th century, with the financial contribution from the ruler of Wallachia Mihnea II. On his initiative, the inner surfaces were covered with Iznik tiles, and the impressive plaster glass window of the holy altar with the inscribed epigram in its upper part, probably composed by Gabriel himself, was created in Constantinople. Painter Markos the Iberian undertook the decoration of the katholikon.    

With the past, as well as the recent research excavation in the chapel of St. John the Baptist, part of the masonry of the north face of its lower level was revealed (underground level nowadays), and the nine built tombs were examined within this level, which served as ossuaries in a later (unknown) period. In addition, the western entrance of the lower level of the church was revealed, a retaining wall in front of it, the built stairway from the entrance of the lower level of the church to the courtyard level near the katholikon, as well as the corner of a building, probably the enclosure (barbakas) of the non-preserved tower of St. Neophytos.

One of the dependencies of the monastery is the skete of St. John the Baptist, which is of considerable importance and it is located within a short distance southwest of the monastery.

Liakos