The Holy Monastery Koutloumousiou - Mount Athos

As we ascend the uphill path that connects Karyes to the Iviron Monastery, we reach the Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou, situated in a lush valley and surrounded by mountain slopes at the heart of the Athos Peninsula.

Koutloumousiou Monastery celebrates The Transfiguration of Christ on August 6th and holds the sixth place in the hierarchy of the twenty monasteries on Mount Athos, following the Holy Monastery of  Dionysiou.

Within the monastery grounds, you will find the Skete of Saint Panteleimon, along with 30 other annexes, including the cell of the Holy Baptist, once inhabited by the renowned 18th-century iconographer, Dionysios of Fourna.

The Skete of Saint Panteleimon gained prominence both in Greece and abroad because it was in close proximity to this sacred ground that Saint Paisios spent his final years, residing in the revered Panagouda cell.

Like all monastic communities on Mount Athos, the Monastery of Koutloumousiou follows a coenobitic system.

As of 2020, the spiritual leader of the monastery is Elder Nikolaos, succeeding Archimandrite Christodoulos, who retired due to health reasons and eventually passed away in 2023.

The scholarly community has presented various perspectives regarding the establishment of the Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou and the origins of its name.

Consequently, the precise timeframe of its founding remains undisclosed. The earliest reference to this monastery dates back to a document from the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon in 1169.

Within this document, the signature of the Abbot of Koutloumousiou, known as Isaiah, is preserved, alongside the signatures of 28 representatives from other Athonite monasteries.

This implies that the establishment of this monastery predates significantly the year 1169.

According to the prevailing account, during the 11th century, the founder of this monastery was one of the sons of the Seljukid dynasty of Asia Minor, Kutlumus, who underwent Christianization.

The Koutloumousiou Monastery experienced a destiny akin to that of other monastic institutions on Mount Athos, enduring numerous trials throughout the centuries. In the late 13th century, it faced severe persecution from Unitarians seeking to unite the Orthodox Church with the Catholic Church.

In the early 14th century, it suffered looting by pirate incursions led by Franks and Catalans. Subsequently, it endured Ottoman subjugation and a series of natural disasters, including fires and more.

The period of the monastery's peak flourished in the latter half of the 14th century, with the dynamic monk Chariton hailing from Imbros assuming the role of abbot.

Chariton embarked on journeys to the Danubian lands with the aim of seeking financial assistance from local rulers. Among these benefactors, the Romanian leader John Vladislav stood out as one of the most magnanimous, responding wholeheartedly to the plea for aid and shouldering nearly all the expenses for the monastery's reconstruction.

During this era, the Koutloumousiou Monastery emerged as a place of spiritual devotion for Romanian faithful, fostering robust bonds of Orthodoxy between Greeks and Romanians, all while preserving the privileges of the Greek community.

It was in the year 1393, still during its zenith and as its reputation began to grow, that Patriarch Anthony officially designated it as "Patriarchal," affirming its autonomy from political or local ecclesiastical authorities.

The period of prosperity extended into the early 15th century, as a significant number of monks began to take residence within its walls, to the point where the existing architectural facilities proved inadequate.

In 1428, Patriarch Joseph II, through a patriarchal decree, granted the adjacent deserted Monastery of Alypios to the Koutlumousiou Monastery, to accommodate the surplus of monks.

However, this era of growth was abruptly halted by the catastrophic fire of 1497, which ravaged a substantial portion of the monastery, and the burdensome taxation imposed during the Turkish rule.

The revival of the Koutlumousiou Monastery took place during the 18th century when Patriarch Matthew III of Alexandria himself became a resident monk and generously endowed the monastery with his personal wealth.

In 1842, the Athoniada School found its home in the Koutloumousian cell of Timios Prodromos, and in 1844, the construction of the New Athoniada in Karyes commenced, situated on the lands owned by the Koutloumousiou Monastery; this school remained there until 1930.

On January 13, 2015, Saint Paisios was canonized and included in the Orthodox Church's liturgical calendar. Since then, the Holy Monastery of Koutloumous has celebrated his memory annually, as Saint Paisios spent the last 15 years of his ascetic life in the Panaguda cell within the monastery's precincts.

The Holy Monastery of Koutloumous has experienced numerous devastating fires throughout the centuries, as well as several incidents of ground subsidence.

Consequently, its structures have evolved through successive renovations. The monastery's central place of worship, known as the Katholikon, is dedicated to the Transfiguration and was constructed during the latter half of the 14th century.

It underwent fresco work a century later in 1540, under the leadership of Abbot Maximos, by an anonymous painter associated with the Cretan School. Within the narthex, frescoes dating back to 1744 have been carefully preserved.

The intricately carved wooden iconostasis within the Katholikon is a masterpiece from the early 19th century and stands as one of Mount Athos' most splendid examples.

The Phiale, used for the consecration of holy water, is a marble structure featuring a lead-coated dome, crafted in 1813.

The Refectory, a building that serves communal meals, was erected in 1770 under the patronage of Patriarch Matthew III of Alexandria, on the site of a previous wing destroyed by the fire of 1767.

Within the monastery, there are ten chapels, including the Chapel of Our Lady “Fovera Prostassia” [Formidable Protection], which houses a miraculous icon of the same name and was constructed in 1733.

Within the sacred confines of the Koutloumousiou Monastery, a treasury of priceless artifacts is meticulously preserved.

Among these treasures are 90 exquisitely adorned liturgical and priestly vestments, consecrated vessels, sacred scriptures, crosses for blessings and processions, chalices, reliquaries containing the relics of revered saints, medallions, and various other sacred objects.

Visitors to the monastery have the privilege of venerating an array of holy relics, including the left foot of Theotokos Annie, the left hand of Gregory the Theologian, and the jawbone of Saint Charalambos.

Additionally, the sacred precinct houses three vertebrae belonging to Saint Gerasimos the Martyr, dating back to 1812, as well as a portion of the revered relics of Saint Panteleimon.

The vast collection of portable icons at the Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou finds its sanctuary within the sacristy, nestled within the monastery's tower.

Spanning various historical epochs, these icons include the 14th-century representation of Saint Nicholas and the Virgin Mary, also from the 14th century, known as Our Lady "Stylarini" or "Giatrissa" [Healer]. 

Among the most treasured possessions of the monastery is the icon of the Virgin Mary, affectionately known as Our Lady “Fovera Prostassia” [Formidable Protection]. Crafted in the 13th or 14th century, it depicts the Theotokos holding Christ's right hand with her left hand.

This remarkable icon is believed to have found its way to Mount Athos, most likely originating from Crete. It holds a unique tale of survival, as it was the only object spared from a devastating fire that destroyed a portion of the Koutloumousiou Monastery in Crete.

On the Tuesday of Diakainisimos, the week after Easter, a day dedicated to the festive celebration of "Fovera Prostasia," the icon embarks on a ceremonial procession from the Monastery of Koutloumousiou to Karyes.

Here, it is warmly embraced by the Church of Protaton, reciprocating the previous day's visit by the miraculous icon of "Axion Esti" at the Monastery of Koutloumous.

The library of the Koutloumousiou Monastery finds its home within the northern wing of the monastery. This extensive archive owes its existence to the merger of records from two monasteries: Koutloumousiou and the historic Monastery of Alypios.

Comprising 134 documents, this archive boasts a rich collection, including imperial chrysobulls, patriarchal sigils, and Sultan's firmanas from the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Monastery of Koutloumousiou became a hub for the creation of notable manuscripts, housing one of Mount Athos' esteemed bibliographic workshops.

Among the treasures safeguarded here are 950 manuscript codices, with the oldest dating back to the 9th century, including 95 on parchment.

Among these manuscripts, you will discover 98 musical codices, known for their clarity and elegance.

Particularly noteworthy are the 24 vivid depictions from the life of Joseph, crafted in the 16th century.

The monastery's printed collection boasts approximately 5,200 books, starting from the year 1500 onwards. Of these, 3,500 are antique editions, printed in the 16th century.

Besides Greek texts, the collection also includes books in Latin, Romanian, French, and Slavonic.

Fax : 0030 23770 23731

Telephone : 0030 23770 23226 

Email : [email protected]

website : www.koutloumous.com