Simonopetra monastery

The monastery Simonopetra (Greek Iera Moní Simonopetra Ιερά Μονή Σίμωνος Πέτρας, Holy Monastery of rock Simons ', also briefly Simonopetra Σιμωνόπετρα ) is a Greek Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos peninsula, Greece. In the monastery of Athos hierarchy it is the thirteenth rank.

It was founded in the Athonite in the 13th century according to legend, by Simon and expanded in 1364 by the Serbian despot Jovan Uglješa. Some historians hold the Serbian prince for the actual founder. After a fire in the 16th century, which destroyed the monastery strong, it was renewed by the Romanian prince Michael the Brave. In the first centuries, most monks were Serbs. Under the later Ottoman rule the monastery was under almost before Greek monks came from Asia Minor, of which the monastery was traditionally inhabited in the last centuries. Finally, it was considered a refuge for monks of Meteora monasteries that have fled the local tourism and the nationalist appropriation by the military junta.

The monastery is located on the west coast of Athos and recalls due to its construction in Tibetan monasteries. It is more than 200 meters above sea level on a fairly steep rocky outcrop that surrounds it completely. The building has ten floors with a total height of about 40 meters. The monastery is dedicated to the birth of Christ.