Esphigmenou Monastery

The monastery Esfigmenou (Greek Μονή Εσφιγμένου ) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery on the coast in the northern part of the peninsula of Mount Athos in Greece. In the hierarchy of the Athos monasteries located at eighteenth place. It is one of the twenty self-governing monasteries in Athos, and ascension of Christ was dedicated. Today, the community of the monastery from about 115 monks there, so it is one of the largest on the peninsula. The monastery is located adjacent to the monastery Hilandar, its foundation dates back to the 10th century.

The treasures of the monastery belongs to the icon Mother of God, the Erbarmerin ( Eleusa ), the Cross of Pulcheria, and parts of the tent of Napoleon, which was processed in the curtain for Lent.

History

The monastery was destroyed several times by pirates or fire, so in the years 873, 1047, 1491 and 1534th The Ottoman army used the monastery from 1821 to 1834 as a barracks. The restoration of monastic life was led by Agathangelos Ayiannanitis 1832-1871. From this time all major buildings such as the bell tower, chapels, parts of the Catholicon and the southern gateway come.