Relief plaque at the Great Lavra

Photographer

Horlbeck, Frank R.

Date

• June 24, 1979

Summary

• This is a photo of a relief plaque on the phiale (ceremonial water reservoir or fountain) located next to the catholicon (communal or main church) at the Great Lavra monastery. Carved in low relief, the scene shows the miracle of the water where St. Athanasius (founder of the Great Lavra - left) encountered the Theotokos (Virgin Mary - right). According to tradition, a famine desolated the monastery when it was being built and many monks left. Athanasius was also considering leaving when the Theotokos appeared to him and helped him by opening a spring of water with a staff. The monks returned to the monastery following the miracle. To the left of St. Athanasius is the tree that he planted which still grows in front of the church. The inscriptions on the plaque read: (on the left) "Saint Athanasius of Athos" - [o agios atha|nasios|to athos]; (in the middle between the figures) "the miracle of the 'All-holy' (i.e. the Virgin Mary) of the water" - [to thauma tis
• panagias
• tou nerou]. Beside the figures on the right side is a depiction of the church that was being built. The church was built in 963. The Great Lavra is the first coenobitic monastery established on Mount Athos. (Lavra means a monastic complex with a large population). The monastery was founded in 957 by St. Athanasius of Athos (with a chrysobull from Emperor Nikephorus Phokas), and its foundation initiated the systematization of monasticism across the Athonite peninsula. The monastery was well supported by subsequent Byzantine emperors and later, after the fall of Constantinople, by Danubian princes and the Russian czars.