Konstamonitou Monastery, Mount Athos, Greece

The Kastamonitou Monastery, officially called Konstamonitou, is an Orthodox Christian monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece. It stands on the southeastern side of the Athos peninsula. The monastery ranks twentieth and last in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries.

The monastery was founded in the mid-11th century, either by an unknown member of the aristocratic Byzantine Kastamonites family, or by an unrelated person hailing from the area of Kastamon in Paphlagonia. It is dedicated to Saint Stephen. Its history during the Byzantine period is obscure, and until the 14th century it appears to have been a moderate establishment. After it was destroyed in a fire in the 1420s and restored by the Serbian magnate Radič, it attracted many monks from the South Slavic lands, and experienced a century of prosperity.

The monastery's present buildings date to the 18th and 19th centuries. The monastery has about 20 working monks. The monastery library holds 110 manuscripts and approximately 5,000 printed books.

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User Reviews

Pencho Mihnev (4 years ago)
Holy Monastery of St. Stephen. Great monastery, great monks!

Andriy Dudchenko (4 years ago)
They were not friendly, unfortunately, when we came for a brief visit. The main church is under reconstruction. May they have a spirit of Christian hospitality.

Lallos Konstantinos (4 years ago)
Genuine Orthodox Christian experience.Very friendly,knowledgeable,discerning,and hospitable Monks

Antonios Mich. (5 years ago)
Authentic monastery of Mount Athos without luxuries and without hotel facilities, hospitable for all those who visit it, it is really worth it !!

Panagiotis Settas (5 years ago)
The "struggle" of the monks is daily!

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There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.

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