Pantokrator Monastery

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Pantokrator Monastery

The Pantocratoros Monastery celebrates on the 6th of August the Transfiguration of Christ. It was founded by the great stratopedarch Alexios and his brother Ioannis Primikirios the Great. A document signed by the Patriarch of Constantinople Kallistos in 1357 confirms the establishment of the Monastery. The Pantocratoros Monastery is located on a rock at an altitude of 40-50 meters on the east coast of the peninsula of Athos. It is a 3.5 hours walk from Karies and it is the seventh in the hierarchy of the monasteries of Mount Athos.

The Emperor Ioannis IV Paleologos granted substantial sums to the founders of the Monastery. There is an inscription which mentions the case of a third owner before 1536, the Great Logothete of Hungary-Wallachia Stanlon, but it was removed in 1847 from the narthex of the Katholikon when the building underwent conversions. The Monastery was destroyed by fire in 1390 and it was rebuilt with the help of the owners, emperor Manuel II Paleologos and patriarch Anthonios IV. During the same time, smaller monasteries such as those of Fakinou, Falakrou, Soriti and Agiou Demetriou came to the juristiction of the Pantocratoros Monastery. It flourished during the 16th century since it had the direct support of Wallachian rulers. Among the most important benefactors of the Monastery was the Greek Ioannis Mavrokordatos from Fanari in the 18th century. The monastery was destroyed by fire in 1773, but it was rebuilt with the help of the monk Cyrilos, and again after the two World Wars the buildings which were burned were rebuilt by the Reconstruction Service.

The Katholikon of the Monastery is honored to the Transfiguration of Christ, celebratong on the 6th of August. The murals on the walls were painted in 1538 by Matthaios Ioannis from Naoussa. There are of course segments of older frescoes that have been preserved until today. Apart from the graves of the owners of the monastery found in the Katholikon there is also an iconostasis dating back to the period of 1622-1640. The Prothesis opposite the Katholikon was built in 1741 and it is incorporated into the wing after the cells of the monks and it was decorated with murals in 1749. The building was extended in 1866. The Monastery has 16 cells and 30 huts.

The library contains 3,500 printed books, 2 scrolls, 317 manuscripts of which 68 are codes in parchment from the 11th and 14th century and almost 350 codes. In the sacristy there are pieces of the shield of Agios Merkourios, miraculous icons, pieces of the Holy Wood, filigreed gold curtains, sacred relics as the right leg of Agios Andreas and the relics of Agios Kosmas and Agios Damianos. The icon that is being commemorated the most is that of Panagia Gerontissa.



Each day, 100 Orthodox and 10 non-Orthodox male pilgrims are admitted for a three-night stay in one of the peninsula's 20 monasteries. Clergy and those who have a special invitation from the monasteries are excluded. Because of the small number of non-orthodox permits issued, if you are planning to visit Mount Athos you should run the necessary procedures the earliest possible. Women are not allowed to enter Mount Athos by law, and there is a penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment for those who break it. Boys were not allowed in the past, but the policy has become more flexible over the years, and now boys can come if they're accompanied by an adult - usually their father.

To enter Mount Athos a permit is required for both individuals and groups. The permit is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate of Churches or by the Ministry of Northern Greece. Orthodox Greeks can apply by producing their identity card at the Athos Bureau in Ouranoupolis on the right side of the port. Diamonitiria (permits to stay as a pilgrim) are issued by the offices of the Athos Bureau, at Ouranoupolis. In order to get their diamonitirion visitors must show their identity cards and pay the sum of €25 for Orthodox visitors, €35 for non-Orthodox visitors or €18 for students. Foreign visitors also need a passport; if you are Orthodox but not Greek, you will need to prove this with a letter from a priest or a baptismal certificate. Foreigners can send an e-mail to athosreservation@gmail.com a photocopy of the request along with their passport. Once you have secured your accommodation, you will need to contact the monastery that you wish by sending a letter to the guest request.

Once in Agio Oros, you can travel around. The hospitality at the monasteries is provided free of charge. Bed and board are offered to the holders of the permit. If you are planning to visit Mount Athos you should bring with you long sleeved shirts, long trousers, flashlight, athletic shoes and a flashlight. Bear in mind that the monastery doors close by sunset. Mobile phones and photo cameras are allowed, but DO NOT photograph the monks. Video cameras are not allowed. Swimming in the sea or listening to loud music is not allowed either. Follow the ritual during lunch and dinner. Everyone, visitors and monks enter the dining room and stand upright in front of their seat. The Abbot prays, gives his blessing, a bell sounds, and everyone sits down to eat without talking to each other. A monk reads ecclesiastic texts and in about 20 minutes the bell sounds for the second time. If you have or you have not finished eating, you must get up, the abbot prays and after he finish you can get out of the dining room.

The Mount Athos Pilgrims’ Bureau- Athos
Official Office
109 Egnatia str,
54635 Thessaloniki
Tel. for nationals +302310252575 Tel. for foreigners +302310252578 Fax +302310222424
Thessaloniki office hours: Monday-Friday 09:00 – 14:00, Saturday: 10:00 – 12:00