The Monastery of Agios Panteleimon

General view

The monastery of Agios Panteleimon (Saint Panteleimon) is built on the south-west side of the peninsula. The monastery, known also as a Russian one, was built at its current site in 1765, while the original building dates back to the beginning of the eleventh century.

The construction of the present monastery was carried out during the first two decades of the nineteenth century, with the financial help of the ruler of Moldo-Wallachia, Skarlatos Kallimaches. Russian monks numbered 1,000 in 1895 and 1,446 in 1903. Today (1990), 35 monks live in the monastery.

It occupies the nineteenth rank in the hierarchical order of the twenty Athonite monasteries. It is coenobitic (communal monastic life). To Saint Panteleimon belongs four dependencies, the skete of Xylourgou or Bogoroditsa, the Chromitsa metochion, the Nea Thebais or Gournoskete and Paleomonastiro.

The monastery features the architecture of a small town, with buildings of various heights and many domes. Until destroyed by a recent fire (1968) one wing of the monastery was used as the guest quarters, with capacity of 1,000 monks.

The Katholikon is dedicated to Saint Panteleimon. The construction was begun in 1812 and completed in 1821. It was built in the style of the Athonic katholika. The interior was frescoed in 19th century in Russian style. Into the monastery are many chapels dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin, Saint Mitrophanes, Ascesion, Saint Sergios, Saint Demetrios, the Archangels, Saint Gerasimos, Saints Constantine and Helen, Vladimir and Olga, Saint Alexander Neuskij and the Holy Canopy.

Opposite of the entrance of the katholikon is the refectory, built in 1890, frescoed 7 years later and planned to host about 800 people. Near the entrance of the refectory stands the phiale for the blessing of the waters.

General view	General view	Ferry arriving at the monastery	Interior view
Interior view	Interior view (old cells)	Main church from above	The entrance of the katholikon (main church)
The bell tower and the church	Nea Thebais or Gournoskete The kyriakon	Nea Thebais or Gournoskete View from the Sea	Chapel of the dormition of the Mother of God

Phiale for the blessing of the waters