In an Athonite monastery, the refectory is the building in which the monks gather together at a specific time for their meals. The food served depends on the ecclesiastical period, and is significantly different during the days of fasting. In fact, on fast days, the monks gather in the refectory only once.
Even the hour of meals is a holy moment, when the mind of the monks should not be distracted with inappropriate thoughts. For this reason, during the meal, one of the monks reads an instructive text aloud, usually a patristic text.
Because the refectory is also the place used for the special meals and particular rituals of the major holidays and celebrations of the Monastery, the building is usually elaborately decorated.
