Xeropotamou Monastery is located in the middle of the Athos peninsula, on the way from Daphne to Karyes and it is dedicated to the Forty Martyrs. It ranks eighth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. One tradition associates Empress Pulcheria with the foundation of the monastery; another attributes its foundation to Constantine Porphyrogenitus and Romanus Lecapenus. It was founded at the end of the 10th century, possibly by monk Pavlos Xeropotaminos who previously led a monastic life in the area at the time of Saint Athanasius the Athonite; it continued to prosper until the beginning of the Frankish period, when pirate raids began. During the late Byzantine period, it was financially supported by the Palaiologan dynasty, as well as by Serbian rulers. After the fall of Byzantium, the Ottoman raids and two destructive fires in 1507 and 1609 caused serious damage to the monastery. It was only restored in the 18th century by monk Cesario Daponte, who renovated the largest part of the monastery after an eight-year effort to find financial resources. The Arsanas complex of the Xeropotamou Monastery is located in close proximity to the port of Daphne.
Xeropotamou Monastery is located in the middle of the Athos peninsula, on the way from Daphne to Karyes and it is dedicated to the Forty Martyrs. It ranks eighth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries.
One tradition associates Empress Pulcheria with the foundation of the monastery; another attributes its foundation to Constantine Porphyrogenitus and Romanus Lecapenus.
It was founded at the end of the 10th century, possibly by monk Pavlos Xeropotaminos who previously led a monastic life in the area at the time of Saint Athanasius the Athonite; it continued to prosper until the beginning of the Frankish period, when pirate raids began. During the late Byzantine period, it was financially supported by the Palaiologan dynasty, as well as by Serbian rulers. After the fall of Byzantium, the Ottoman raids and two destructive fires in 1507 and 1609 caused serious damage to the monastery. It was only restored in the 18th century by monk Cesario Daponte, who renovated the largest part of the monastery after an eight-year effort to find financial resources.
The monastic complex of the holy Xeropotamou Monastery is nearly square, with three-storey wings. Its courtyard is spacious with the Katholikon in the center. This is connected to the west wing via a glass-enclosed walkway where the Refectory is located. Most of the buildings that make up the wings of the Monastery are dating back to the 18th century. The Katholikon was rebuilt in the years 1761-1763 and frescoed in 1783. The monastery has sixteen Chapels, seven of which are within the monastery complex, as well as a few cells.
The Arsanas complex of the holy Xeropotamou Monastery is located in close proximity to the port of Daphne.
The monastery holds a rich collection of relics, of which the largest piece of the True Cross in the world, 31 cm long, 16 cm wide and 25 cm thick, stands out (according to one tradition it was a gift from Emperor Romanus I; according to another, it was a dedication of Empress Pulcheria), along with the steatite panagiarion known as the Pulcheria paten. Around 400 manuscripts and 4.000 books are held in the library of the monastery.
Athanasios Nakos
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