Dionysiou monastery
Monastery of Dionysiou (Greek Μονή Διονυσίου ) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery on the southwest side of the peninsula of Mount Athos in Greece. In the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries it is in fifth place. It is one of the twenty self-governing monastery on Athos, and John was dedicated to the Baptist. Today, the community of the monastery consists of about 50 monks.
History
The monastery was founded in the mid-14th century, founded by the monk Dionysius of Koryssos in the district of Kastoria and named after him. He received financial support from Emperor Alexius II Comnenus of Trebizond. In 1535 the monastery was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt, since the architecture has remained unchanged.
Architecture and cultural heritage
The entire monastery is built over eighty meters high walls, which in turn rest on a rocky promontory projecting overhanging from the sea. The upper part of the monastery is lined with balconies and galleries, hanging boldly over the abyss. The scarce available space made it necessary that the entire structure of the monastic buildings was around attached to the red-colored Catholicon. The frescoes in the church and in the refectory be attributed Zorzi from Crete and come from 1547.
The library of the monastery includes 804 manuscripts and more than 4,000 printed books. The oldest manuscripts date from the 11th century.
Manuscripts
- Codex Athous Dionysius
- Uncial 050