Iviron monastery

The Iviron (Greek Ιερά Μονή Ιβήρων Iera Moní Iviron, also Iberon, Iveron transcribed, georgian: ივერთა მონასტერი ) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state on the peninsula of Mount Athos in Greece. In the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries it is in third place. It is one of the twenty self-governing monasteries on Athos and the Assumption of Mary was dedicated.

Iberon was built in 980 under the leadership of the Georgian prince John Varazvatsche ( Warazvace ), an official in the king's court Dawits IV and later became a monk, his son Euthymius and his son John Tornik ( ios ). In the service of the Byzantine emperor Basil II Tornik had 979 down the uprising of a Greek general in Asia Minor. The revenue and spoils of this action could equip the monastery lush him.

Iviron was an important center for the Christian Georgian culture, mainly because of the more than 160 translations, the son of John, the Holy Euthymius, the second abbot of the monastery (died 1028 ), anfertigte. After the Mongol invasion in 1326, the contacts between Georgia and the Athoskloster went back, 1355 was Greek official language in Iviron. Testifies the library with its 2000 manuscripts, including major Georgian textual evidence from the more established cultural tradition of the monastery. In the 1880s, Mikhail Sabinin worked here. Today, the community of the monastery consists of more than 70 monks and novices.

The Catholicon was built in 980-983 and was given its present form 1513th The building is divided into triconch chancel with side chapels and a double narthex ( vestibule ).

Of all the monasteries on Athos this preserves most Heiligenreliquen. Also include a famous icon from the 9th century - the Panagia Portaitissa - the treasures of the monastery. It is considered the most famous Georgian foreign monastery.

The name comes from the ancient Iviron Georgian Kingdom of Iberia ( Iveria ) back, home of the first monks.