Agiou Pavlou Holy Monastery - Mount Athos
In the western slopes of Mount Athos, near the Holy Monastery of Dionysiou, nestled within a picturesque ravine, stands the venerable Holy Monastery of Saint Paul.
Its origins trace back to the late 10th century. This sacred enclave marks the southernmost point of the Athonite Peninsula's western side, accessible to pilgrims via a leisurely 20-minute hike from Arsanas.
Perched upon rocky terrain, the Holy Monastery of Saint Paul gracefully extends upwards.
It commemorates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd and holds the esteemed 14th position among the 20 monastic communities of Mount Athos, situated just after the Holy Monastery of Simonopetra.
Within the Monastery of Saint Paul, one finds two sketes: The Holy Skete of the Presentation of Mary, also known as the New Skete, and the Romanian Holy Skete of Saint Demetrius.
Additionally, it houses three individual cells in Karyes. Notably, the Monastery of Saint Paul was reintegrated into coenobitic monastic system in 1839, thanks to the seal of approval from the Ecumenical Patriarch Gregory VI. Presently, the Monastery is under the spiritual guidance of Archimandrite Parthenios.
The tale of Saint Paul Monastery bears a striking resemblance to the narratives of other sanctuaries on Mount Athos.
It weathered harsh trials, enduring pillaging, pirate raids, burdensome taxation by the Ottomans, and numerous natural calamities.
According to tradition, the monastery's origins trace back to the late 10th century when Saint Paul the Xeropotamite, a contemporary of Saint Athanasios the Athonite and the founder of the Holy Monastery of Xeropotamou, undertook its establishment.
Following the construction of the Holy Monastery of Xeropotamou and its enrichment with an array of sacred relics, treasures, and estates, Saint Paul sought solitude, ultimately retiring to a modest hermit's cell nestled in the western foothills of Mount Athos.
This cell would gradually evolve into the renowned Monastery of Saint Paul.
In the early 14th century, Catalan mercenaries wrought complete devastation upon the monastery, causing it to lose its preeminence and be reduced to a subordinate cell of the Monastery of Xeropotamou by 1329.
Then, around 1370, the monastery was bestowed upon two Serbian noblemen, Gerasim Radonia and Anton Pagas.
Through their tireless dedication and painstaking efforts, they undertook the arduous task of rebuilding and elevating it once more to its former status as a leading monastic institution.
Prominent benefactors of Saint Paul's Monastery included the Palaiologan emperors John VII and John VIII, as well as numerous Serbian rulers such as Radoslav Gjur, King Lazarus, and George Vrankovich.
Subsequently, several Russian tsars also contributed to its restoration. Among the monastery's most notable benefactors in its millennia-long history stands the Christian Princess Maro.
As the wife of Ottoman Sultan Murat II, stepmother to the future conqueror of Constantinople, Mehmed II, and daughter of George Vrankovich, Maro displayed a deep affection for her beloved monasteries on Mount Athos, specifically Hilandar and Saint Paul.
She generously endowed Saint Paul's Monastery with relics, funds, properties, and metochia.
Maro's exceptional favor towards the Monastery of Saint Paul can be attributed to her unwavering Christian faith and her compassion for her Serbian compatriot monks, who often outnumbered the Greeks.
Her emotional connection to the monastery was further cemented by her father's contributions to its construction, including the construction of the then-Katholikon.
In more recent history, the Holy Monastery of Saint Paul faced a series of natural disasters that compounded its already challenging financial situation, stemming from the Greek Revolution of 1821.
In 1902, the monastery suffered a devastating fire, followed by a powerful earthquake in 1907, and culminating in a severe flood in 1911.
During the 20th century, the monastery played a significant role in the Greek Orthodox Church, producing numerous hierarchs.
Notably, for a five-year period, the spiritual leadership of the monastery was entrusted to the renowned Russian elder, Archimandrite Sophron Sakharov, a figure of great importance within the Orthodox world.
This unique development in the modern history of Mount Athos saw a Greek monastery guided by a Russian monk.
Sophron Sakharov is venerated in Orthodox tradition as one of the most charismatic monks of the 20th century. On November 27, 2019, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople officially included him in the hagiography of the Orthodox Church.
The first Katholikon, the central chapel of the Holy Monastery of Saint Paul, dates back to the 11th century and is dedicated to Our Lady.
In 1447, a new Katholikon was erected in the monastery's small courtyard, generously funded by Vrankovich, the ruler of Serbia, to honor Saint George.
The present-day Katholikon was established in 1816 under the leadership of Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople and stands as one of Mount Athos' most recent Katholikons.
It was meticulously constructed between 1839 and 1844 with the dedicated efforts and support of Sophron Kalliga.
Following the Athonite tradition of the Great Lavra's Katholikon, this place of worship is consecrated in honor of the Presentation of Jesus Christ.
The marble iconostasis, skillfully crafted in 1901 by Ioannis Lyritis, a gifted marble sculptor from Tinos, adorns the Katholikon.
It's noteworthy that the cathedral remains unadorned with religious frescoes. Its interior decor is enhanced by six ornate brass candelabras and a central chandelier created in Dresden in 1669.
It's worth mentioning that the Holy Monastery of Saint Paul does not possess the traditional holy water vessel, Phiale, commonly found in most monasteries on Mount Athos.
The refectory of the Holy Monastery of Saint Paul was initially established in 1820 but tragically succumbed to a catastrophic fire in 1902.
It was subsequently reconstructed in its present form but lacks any fresco adornments.
The flooring, as well as the tables, are fashioned from exquisite marble.
Within the confines of the Monastery of Saint Paul, one can discover a total of 12 chapels, with the most prominent being those dedicated to Saint Paul and Saint George.
Notably, the latter chapel is adorned with frescoes dating back to 1555, adding a touch of historical and spiritual significance to this sacred place.
Among the numerous relics held by the Monastery of St. Paul, there are notable pieces, such as a fragment of the Holy Cross of our Lord—a generous gift from the Byzantine Emperor Romanos I Lecapinos—and the Cross of St. Paul, the monastery's founder.
However, undoubtedly the most precious treasure among them is the collection of silver cases containing the Holy Gifts that the Three Magi presented to Christ in Bethlehem.
These Holy Gifts, composed of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, were graciously offered by the Christian Sultana Maro, as mentioned earlier.
They have been safeguarded within the monastery since 1470 when Maro transported them from Constantinople after the city's fall, during which they had fallen into the hands of the Ottomans as spoils.
These artifacts had resided in Constantinople for nearly a millennium, initially brought there from Jerusalem in 404 AD.
Legend has it that Maro personally delivered these Holy Gifts to the Monastery of St. Paul.
While ascending from the shore towards the monastery, roughly midway through her journey, she heard a voice cautioning her, 'Maro, do not proceed.
The monastery is inhabited by monks, and you are a woman.' Without hesitation, Maro entrusted the Holy Gifts to the monastery's abbot and retraced her steps to the ship.
To commemorate this event, the 'Shrine of Maro' was constructed at the very spot where she heard the divine message.
The Holy Monastery of St. Paul is a repository for the sacred relics of numerous saints, including the Great Martyr George, Saint Fevronia, Saint Neomartyr Charalambos, the Three Holy Hierarchs, a fragment of Basil the Great's tibia, the complete thigh of Saint Gregory the Theologian preserved in a state of incorruption, the arm of Saint John Chrysostom, the chariot of Saint Agatha the Martyr, the collarbone of Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis, and many others.
One of the most significant and ancient treasures within the monastery is a portion of the sacred reliquary of Saint Panteleimon, the Great Martyr and Healer.
Within the sacred walls of the Monastery of Saint Paul, visitors are offered the opportunity to venerate a multitude of icons.
Among these revered images, one can find an icon depicting Saint George, and five icons depicting the Theotokos, all dating back to the 9th century.
Among these five icons, two stand out as particularly significant: Our Lady, known as "Myrovlytissa," which serves as the monastery's primary icon of devotion, and Our Lady, known as the "Mirror."
According to tradition, the "Mirror" icon was a gift from Empress Theodora of Augusta during the tumultuous period of iconoclasm.
The empress concealed this precious artifact beneath a grand personal mirror, where she would secretly offer her devotion. When word of this reached the iconoclasts, they confiscated the icon and cast it into the flames.
Yet, miraculously, it remained unscathed, with discernible traces of scorching visible on its reverse side.
This icon stands as one of the most cherished relics not only within the monastery but also throughout Mount Athos.
Scholars consider Our Lady of the "Mirror" as the third-oldest icon on Mount Athos, following the "Akathistos" icon of the Dionysiou Monastery—an exceedingly ancient icon—and the "Portaitissa" icon of the Iviron Monastery.
Despite enduring a devastating fire in 1902, the library of the Holy Monastery of Saint Paul perseveres with a wealth of invaluable manuscripts and printed books.
These treasures were rescued from the inferno at great risk to the lives of the devoted monks.
Presently, the library is housed on the second floor of the monastery's southeast wing, containing an impressive collection of approximately 500 manuscripts and nearly 20,000 printed books, with the majority published after 1900.
It also boasts a considerable assortment of documents, including chrysobulla and sigillia. Noteworthy among the monastery's possessions is a collection of musical manuscripts, ranking among the most extensive on Mount Athos, with roughly 100 manuscripts.
One of the library's most prized possessions is a 10th or 11th-century parchment codex. Within its preserved portion lies the Acts of the Apostles, accompanied by insightful commentaries.
The monastic products from the Holy Monastery of Saint Paul in Mount Athos are a sensory delight and a spiritual indulgence.
Wines bearing their unique regional character, aromatic herbs preserving their untouched nature, select foods merging taste and tradition, fragrant incenses transporting the mind and soul, handcrafted prayer ropes conveying peace and focus, and moisturizing skincare creams and aromatic soaps embracing the skin with care and hospitality.
Each product represents a journey into spiritual harmony and authentic quality.
