Saint Panteleimon Monastery - Mount Athos
On a picturesque shoreline along the southwestern edge of the Athos peninsula, nestled between the Xenophontos Monastery and the Daphni Port, you will discover the Holy Monastery of Saint Panteleimon, often referred to as the "Russian Monastery."
As you approach it by sea, you'll be immediately captivated by the diverse, vibrant, and multi-story structures of the monastery, which, from a distance, evoke the aura of a quaint coastal town.
This stately monastic complex, characterized by its distinctive bulbous domes in the Muscovite architectural style, stands as a testament to the flourishing era of Orthodox Russia during the 19th century.
The monastery celebrates its patronal feast of the Great Martyr Panteleimon on July 27th and holds the 19th position in the hierarchical order of the 20 monasteries on Mount Athos, right after the Esphigmenou Monastery.
Since its establishment as a monastic community in 1809 under the auspices of Patriarch Kallinikos, the current abbot of the monastery is Eulogios Ivanov, a descendant of Russian heritage, who assumed his position in 2016.
Notably, the Monastery of Panteleimon also encompasses the Holy Skete of the Dormition of Holy Theotokos, often referred to as "Bogoroditsa," as well as the nearby dependency of Chromitsa.
The grand complex of the Holy Monastery of Saint Panteleimon, which stands before us today, was constructed after the mid-18th century.
However, the origins of the monastery trace back much further, all the way to the conclusion of the 10th century.
Initially, the monastery's location nestled within a remote area near the Pantokratoros Monastery, now known as the Bogoroditsa Skete, was then referred to as the Carpenter Monastery.
As the monastic community grew, the Holy Monastic Community of Mount Athos bestowed upon the brotherhood the long-deserted ancient Monastery of Thessalonikeos in 1169, a place now called the "Palaiomonastiri" [Old Monastery].
This former Monastery of Thessalonikeos was approximately an hour away from Karyes and was consecrated by the brotherhood in honor of Saint Panteleimon.
For seven full centuries, it served as the nucleus of the Panteleimon Monastery. Around 1193, Saint Sava, who later became the Archbishop of Serbia and the founder of the Hilandar Monastery, embarked on his monastic journey here.
During the 13th century, the monastery fell victim to a devastating fire ignited by the Catalans. Nonetheless, the Serbian ruler Stefan Dusan later provided support, fostering its prosperity.
Besides Serbian support, the monastery also received financial aid from Byzantine emperors such as John V Palaiologos.
Written evidence confirming the existence of the monastery is documented in a chrysobull attributed to Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos.
Evidently, the Monastery of Panteleimon had, from time immemorial, been a sanctuary for Russian monks. Nevertheless, from the year 1497 onward, the monastery primarily embraced a Russian presence.
However, during the era of Ottoman rule, the number of Russian monks dwindled considerably, leading to the abandonment of the monastery due to mounting debts and the tumultuous Russo-Turkish war climate.
In this trying period, the remaining Greek monks eventually vacated the premises due to its unsuitability.
Consequently, the Monastery of Panteleimon was relocated for the third and final time, settling by the shore, at the site of a Resurrection chapel.
It was approximately in 1765 that the construction of new facilities near the coastline began. Henceforth, the old Monastery of Thessalonikeos came to be known as the "Palaiomonastiri" and continued as a subsidiary of the new monastery.
The inaugural abbot in this new location was Savvas Peloponnesian, who had previously resided in the cloister of the Xenophontos Monastery.
During Abbot Savvas's tenure, the monastery received generous financial support from Scarlat Callimachi, the ruler of Wallachia.
Originally serving as an interpreter for Mahmud II, Scarlat Callimachi fell gravely ill. Seeking a cure, he turned to Abbot Savvas, imploring him to journey to Constantinople while carrying the sacred relic of Saint Panteleimon.
This journey proved transformative, as Scarlat was miraculously healed by the holy artifact, subsequently ascending to a leadership position.
In gratitude for the miraculous recovery, the Callimachi family extended substantial assistance to the monks. In 1806, as per a foundational patriarchal document, the Monastery of Panteleimon was formally designated as the "Authentic Monastery of the Callimachi."
After the events of the 1821 revolution, the monastery entered a period of decline. Around 1840, it found itself compelled to welcome Russian monks, who received financial support from Russia.
Their numerical dominance became evident, peaking at the end of the 19th century with a population surpassing a thousand individuals.
In 1875, with assistance from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a Russian-born abbot was elected for the first time, and it was decided that the sacred services in the Catholic Church would be conducted in both Greek and Russian.
The grandeur of the monastery's structures bears witness to the wealth acquired through Russian sponsorships.
Nevertheless, the monastery underwent a transformation in its appearance, resulting in it now being an architectural anomaly among the monasteries of Mount Athos.
Regarding more recent history, the St. Panteleimon Monastery experienced another period of decline due to the strife within the "Nomenclatura" sect.
In 1913, numerous Russian monks were exiled during this period.
Furthermore, in 1917, as communism gained dominance, sponsorships ceased, and the monastery faced scarcity.
On October 23, 1968, a devastating fire engulfed the majority of the complex, including the magnificent archontarium, which symbolized the former glory of Tsarist Russia.
In 2016, the St. Panteleimon Monastery celebrated a significant milestone - a thousand years of Russian monks' presence on Mount Athos.
This event was attended by Russian President Putin and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
The monastery's main church, known as the Katholikon, is dedicated to the Great Martyr and Healer Saint Panteleimon.
An inscription at the entrance of the narthex indicates that it was constructed between 1812 and 1821 with the generous support of Skarlat Callimachi, a Greek leader from Moldavia who also funded the construction of several other structures within the monastery.
The frescoes adorning the church today belong to the 19th-century Russian artistic tradition, though the Greek influence is somewhat subdued.
The intricately carved wooden iconostasis, originating from Russia and dating to the latter half of the 19th century, adds to the church's rich ornamentation.
Services in the Katholikon continue to be conducted in both Greek and Russian.
The church's distinctive roof features eight domes with the characteristic bovine shape of Russian architectural design. The monastery's bell tower, completed in 1893, houses a collection of 33 bells, the largest of which weighs an impressive 13 tons and boasts a diameter of 2.70 meters.
This monumental bell, crafted in Russia, stands as the largest on Mount Athos, and its resounding chimes carry across the entire region, even reaching nearby inhabited areas.
The monastery's refectory can accommodate up to 1000 individuals and is adorned with frescoes following the Russian artistic style.
In front of the refectory stands a distinctive vessel, deviating from the conventional domed and columned design seen in vessels at other Mount Athos monasteries.
Within the Holy Monastery of Saint Panteleimon, a total of 36 chapels can be found, with some situated outside the main monastery complex.
The chapel of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary exclusively conducts services in Greek, while the chapel of Saint Metrophanes of Voroni maintains a consistent Russian-language liturgy.
The treasury of the Holy Monastery of Saint Panteleimon is located in a two-story wing adjacent to the sanctuary, not far from the refectory.
Within these sacred walls, a collection of revered relics is carefully safeguarded.
These relics include fragments of the Holy Cross, intricately carved wooden crosses, precious icons, predominantly of Russian origin, as well as silver and golden liturgical vessels, among other sacred treasures.
Inside the hallowed walls of the Katholikon, the principal church of the Holy Monastery of Panteleimon, there is a rich collection of saintly relics.
Among them, you can find the reliquary of the young martyr, Saint Stephen, consecrated in 1815 by Roxandra, the wife of Callimachi, and the reliquary of the newly canonized Saint Silouan the Athonite.
However, perhaps the most significant and venerable relic in the monastery is the reliquary of Saint Panteleimon, the Great Martyr and Healer.
A portion of this sacred relic is also housed within the confines of the Monastery of Saint Paul. This holy relic has been credited with miraculous healings for numerous ailments, and throughout history,
it has borne witness to a multitude of miraculous events. In 1744, the arrival of this precious relic in Constantinople, and subsequently in Moldavia, served as a bulwark against the devastating spread of the plague epidemic.
Within the revered walls of the Saint Panteleimon Monastery, visitors have the opportunity to pay homage to numerous sacred and marvelous icons.
Among these, you can find the Icon of the Virgin Mary from Jerusalem, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Panteleimon, and many others, most of which have their origins in Russian art.
The library of the Saint Panteleimon Monastery stands as one of the most magnificent libraries on Mount Athos.
Despite enduring significant damage on several occasions, it resides in a separate building within the monastery's courtyard.
The current collection of manuscripts includes 1,494 Greek codices, 494 Slavonic manuscripts, 366 Russian manuscripts, and, lastly, 45 codices in various other languages.
Notably, among these treasures, you'll find Parchment Codex Number 2, one of Mount Athos's foremost gems.
This 11th-century Byzantine illustrated Gospel book is adorned with precious gemstones and showcases numerous depictions, many of which are part of the Dodecaortos cycle.
