Iviron

Monastery of Iviron (Georgian: ივერთა მონასტერი, iverta monast'eri; Greek: Μονή Ιβήρων, Monḗ Ivirōn) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in northern Greece.

Iviron
External view of the monastery.
Location within Mount Athos
Monastery information
Full nameMonastery of Iviron
Orderformerly Georgian Orthodox Church
now Patriarchate of Constantinople
Establishedbetween 980-983 AD
Dedicated toDormition of the Theotokos
People
Founder(s)John the Iberian and Tornikios
PriorArchimandrite Elder Nathanael
Important associated figuresGeorge of Athos, Tornikios, John the Iberian, Euthymius of Athos
Site
Location Mount Athos, Greece
Coordinates40.2455°N 24.2848°E / 40.2455; 24.2848
Public accessMen only

History

The monastery was built under the supervision of two Georgian monks, John the Iberian and Tornike Eristavi between 980-983 and housed Georgian clergy and priests.[1] Iveron literally means "of the Iberians" in Greek. The name Iviron originated from the ancient Georgian Kingdom of Iberia (Iveria) where the master architect of the monastery Ioannes was from.

The monastery ranks third in the Athonite hierarchy of 20 sovereign monasteries.[2] The monastery library contains 2,000 manuscripts, 15 liturgical scrolls, and 20,000 books in Georgian, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin.

The monastery has the relics of more canonized saints than any other on Mount Athos. The Panagia Portaitissa, a famous 9th century icon, is also located at Iviron.

The monastery has about 30 working monks and novices, none of whom are Georgian.

Notable people

References
  1. The building had been partially funded by Byzantine Emperor Basil II. As a reward for John the Iberian's help with suppressing a rebellion, Basil II gave 1200 pounds of gold for the building of the monarchy. The mind of the Orthodox Church, Vlachos, Hierotheos.
  2. "The administration of Mount Athos". Archived from the original on 2016-03-11. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
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