Docheiariou Holy Monastery - Mount Athos

Nestled on a picturesque amphitheater-like green slope, approximately 30 meters above sea level on the southwestern flank of Mount Athos, you'll find the revered Docheiariou Monastery.

It's regarded as one of the most charming monastic enclaves on Mount Athos, nestled between the Xenophontos and Konstamonitou Monasteries.

Founded in the early 11th century, this monastery celebrates its patronal feast in honor of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel on November 8th.

In the hierarchy of Mount Athos' twenty monastic institutions, Docheiariou Monastery holds the 10th position, following Zografou Monastery.

In 1980, it underwent a transformation into a coenobitic establishment under the leadership of Patriarch Demetrios I of Constantinople. Since 2018, Archimandrite Amfilochios has served as the abbot, succeeding the long-serving abbot, Elder Gregory.

The Holy Monastery of Docheiariou boasts a rich history dating back to the early 11th century. It was founded by the monk Euthymios, a disciple of Saint Athanasios the Athonite, who was the visionary behind the Great Lavra Monastery. Initially, Monk Euthymios, who served as a docheiarch responsible for food supplies, resided at the Great Lavra. However, with the blessing of Saint Athanasios, he established himself in the region we now know as Dafni and began the construction of a temple and various structures. This area was named Docheiariou in recognition of Euthymios's role as a docheriarch. The new monastery faced numerous challenges, including raids by pirates, leading to its relocation to its current site around 1046. Documented evidence of the Monastery of Docheiariou's existence can be found in a typikon dated 1045, where the then-abbot, Theodoulos, appended his signature.

Originally, the primary church of the monastery was dedicated to Saint Nicholas.

However, during the abbacy of Neophytos in the late 11th century, the monastery was rededicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel due to a miraculous event.

Around 1092, a young shepherd named Basil discovered a treasure in the Sithonia region and sought to offer it to the Holy Monastery of Docheiariou.

Abbot Neophytos instructed three monks to accompany Basil by boat to transport the treasure to the monastery.

Regrettably, the three monks betrayed Basil, casting him into the sea after attaching a stone to his neck in an attempt to claim the treasure for themselves.

In a remarkable turn of events, two golden eagles lifted Basil, still tethered to the stone, and transported him to the central point of the Monastery of Docheiariou's church.

Here, Basil recounted his harrowing ordeal. Saint Neophytos discerned that the two golden eagles were none other than the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, prompting him to dedicate the temple to these celestial beings.

The historical trajectory of the Holy Monastery of Docheiariou closely parallels the experiences of other monastic communities on Mount Athos.

Its initial centuries were marked by prosperity, but in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, the monastery faced challenges such as Unionist persecutions, which aimed to unite the Orthodox Church with the Papal Church, and frequent pirate raids.

The period of Turkish rule further contributed to the monastery's decline.

However, in the mid-16th century, the monastery received a benefactor in the form of a cleric named George from Adrianople.

According to tradition, George had been gravely ill but found healing when he visited the Monastery of Docheiariou and partook of the holy water blessed by the Archangels.

In gratitude, George donated his entire estate to the monastery and diligently worked to revitalize the desolate cloister. In this endeavor, he received support from Alexander, the ruler of Moldavia, and his wife Roxandra.

During the Greek Revolution of 1821, the Holy Monastery of Docheiariou, like many other monasteries on Mount Athos, suffered losses and had to relinquish its entire movable assets.

The Holy Monastery of Docheiariou boasts the tallest Katholikon on Mount Athos, second only to the Katholikon at the Monastery of Hilandar in length.

The present-day structure of the Katholikon dates back to the 16th century, with its frescoes painstakingly crafted in 1568.

These remarkable artworks are attributed to the Cretan painter George and stand as prime examples of the Cretan School, an esteemed tradition within Mount Athos.

Embedded within the dome of the Phiale, a sacred place where the monks bless the water, we find the tale of the miraculous deeds of Archangels Michael and Gabriel, an event that led to the consecration of the church in their honor.

The refectory at the Holy Monastery of Docheiariou was erected in the 16th century under the guidance of Archbishop Prochoros of Ohrid.

Adorning the refectory are frescoes depicting the theme of the Apocalypse, reminiscent of those found at the Monastery of Xeropotamou and the Monastery of Saint Dionysios.

Within the sacred grounds of the Holy Monastery of Docheiariou, one can discover ten chapels, with the most significant among them being the Chapel of the Virgin Mary, known as "Gorgoepikoos" (Fast Hearkening).

This chapel safeguards the eponymous miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, ranking as one of the most renowned treasures of Mount Athos.

he repository within the Holy Monastery of Docheiariou safeguards a wealth of precious relics and sacred artifacts, including a fragment of the Holy Cross, intricate vestments, religious icons, consecrated vessels, crosses, reliquaries, and more.

One prominently revered relic adorns the northern wall of the exonarthex—an exquisite 9th-century Byzantine cross once used by monks during processions in Constantinople.

Of particular historical interest is a sizable ancient inscription from the 3rd century BC, through which King Cassander granted estates to distinguished Macedonian nobles.

Visitors to the Holy Monastery of Docheiariou are blessed with the opportunity to venerate numerous holy relics, among them those of revered saints such as Tryphonos, Charalambos, Hermogenes, Artemiou, and others.

Within these sacred walls, one can also encounter the precious relics of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite, a fragment of John the Baptist's relics, the reed from the right hand of Saint Marina, the palm of Saint Paraskevi, and the finger of John Chrysostom—the illustrious father and teacher of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The Holy Monastery of Docheiariou houses a renowned miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary known as “Gorgoepikoos.”

This icon, painted in 1563, is located in a chapel just outside the main sanctuary.

The epithet “Gorgoepikoos” [Fast Hearkening] signifies the Virgin's swift response to the prayers of faithful supplicants, offering her assistance without delay.

It ranks among the most celebrated icons of Mount Athos, alongside Our Lady “Portaitissa.”

Within the confines of the Holy Monastery of Docheiariou, one can also find two other remarkable icons featuring Archangels Michael and Gabriel.

One of these icons, known as “Naupighiki” [Shipbuilding], graces the exonarthex of the katholikon.

According to tradition, this icon was once housed aboard a vessel used to transport income from various metochia to the Monastery of Docheiariou.

However, the monks, fearing theft by approaching Turkish marauders, intentionally set the ship ablaze. Miraculously, only this icon of the Taxiarchs survived the fiery ordeal.

The library of the Holy Monastery of Docheiariou was relocated to the monastery's tower for enhanced fire safety measures following a devastating blaze that erupted in 1891 at the Monastery of Simonopetra.

Within the library's archives, you will find an assemblage of approximately 60 Byzantine documents dating from the 11th to the 15th centuries.

Additionally, there are around 100 documents originating from the 16th and 17th centuries, along with a significant collection of Romanian and Turkish manuscripts.

The monastery's manuscripts number in excess of 600, including roughly 60 parchments.

Of notable mention in the library is the oldest surviving Athonite manuscript containing works by Lucian.

Furthermore, an exquisite gospel, featuring the four evangelists and dating back to the 12th century, hails from Nicaea.

This remarkable gospel is adorned with miniature illustrations depicting numerous saints and is embellished with opulent motifs and vibrant colors.

In the library of the Holy Monastery of Docheiariou, over 5000 early printed books are carefully preserved.

The Holy Monastery of Docheiariou, one of the oldest and most important monasteries of Mount Athos, produces a variety of monastic products. The most popular are myrrh,honey, incense, and olive oil.

Myrrh is an aromatic oil made from various herbs and spices. It is used for sacred services and for therapeutic purposes.

Incense is a traditional Mount Athos incense with a strong aroma. It is used in sacred services and for its pleasant smell.

The monastery's oil is an extra virgin olive oil of excellent quality.

Olive Oil

The monastic products of the Holy Monastery of Docheiariou are produced using traditional methods and with pure materials.

Fax : 0030 23770 23245

Telephone : 0030 23770 23245

Website : www.evosmon.gr

 E -mail : [email protected]