Posts in category: Κτηριακή Συγκρότηση 1 – Ξενοφώντος

The new cathedral of the Monastery, which has an imposing majesty, is the biggest cathedral on Mt Athos today. It dominates the northwest courtyard area, toward which the Monastery has expanded. It has been dated to the 19th century, although its construction had been systematically undertaken since the catastrophic fire of 1817. However, the construction work was interrupted a bit later because of the unstable conditions created on Mt Athos by the Revolution of 1821, and were continued after 1830.
The new cathedral is also dedicated to St Georgios, and follows the Athonite-type architectural plan.

The central church is known as the cathedral, where the night-and-day worship of God takes place. The older of the Monastery’s cathedrals is smaller and dedicated to the patron saint of the Monastery, St Georgios, and occupies the central space in the old Monastery. It is truly a monument to art, and is dated from the end of the 10th century to the beginning of the 11th.
Many elements from this early period have survived – such as the old marble icon screen – while many changes have been made. Among these are the additions of a chapel dedicated to St Lazarus in about 1400, and that of the entrance nave and the side apses in the beginning of the 16th century.