Great Lavra catholicon

Photographer

Horlbeck, Frank R.

Date

• July 13, 1970

Summary

• View of the catholicon (communal or main church) at the Great Lavra monastery. The church was built in 963 and is located in the center of the courtyard. It boasts beautiful frescos in the nave painted by Theophanes the Cretan dating to 1535. There are two side chapels on either side of the catholicon narthex dedicated to St. Nicholas (on the south side) and to the Saranta Martyron (i.e. Forty Martyrs; on the north - partially visible toward the back). In front of the entrance to the catholicon is a phiale (water fountain for liturgical or ceremonial use) - not visible in the photo. Opposite the catholicon (in the back behind the building) is the refectory (trapezon - or dining hall). 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. The monastery also contains a rich library with thousands of historical manuscripts and over ten thousand books.