Skete of Agios Dimitrios - Lakkoskiti

The Skete of St. Demetrios or Lakkoskiti is located in the northern part of Mount Athos, between the Monastery of St. Paul and the Skete of St. Anne. It is situated on both sides of the Morphovou River at an elevation of 280 meters and is about 90 minutes walking distance from the main Monastery of St. Paul.

The area of the Skete is densely forested, creating a picture of green explosion. However, the space is relatively limited and difficult to access.

The foundation of the Skete dates back to the 10th century. In the first half of the 14th century, Serbian monks settled in the area and asceticised there for several centuries. In 1485, the Skete was handed over to the Monastery of St. Paul, to which it has been subordinate ever since.

From the middle of the 18th century, the Skete began to be inhabited by Moldavian monks. In 1754, the Skete was deserted, but was revived six years later by the Moldavian monk Daniel. In 1830, the Moldavian monks outnumbered all others and seized the Skete.

In 1849, the Moldavian monks began to build the new katholikon of the Skete, which is dedicated to St. Demetrios. The katholikon was completed in 1904 and has a refectory and a bell tower.

Until the first half of the 20th century, there were 24 kalyvas in the Skete, six of which had no church. Today, only five kalyvas are inhabited: those of St. Skepi, the Annunciation, St. Nicholas, the Presentation, and the Holy Archangels.