Mount Athos Monasteries: Iveron

The Holy Monastery of Iveron was founded at the end of the 10th century (between 980-983 AD) under the supervision of the master architect St John the Iberian.

It is an Eastern Orthodox monastery at the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece.  The monastery ranks third in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. The library of Iviron monastery contains over 2000 manuscripts, 15 liturgical scrolls, and more than 20,000 Georgian, Greek, Hebrew and Latin books.

 

The monastery has the relics of more canonized saints than any other on Mount Athos. Among the numerous relics and other holy objects treasured at the monastery is the Icon of the The Panagia Portaitissa, a famous 9th century icon.

The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron

It is the biggest and oldest of the six monasteries located at Meteora. It was founded in the 14th century AD by St. Athanasios Meteorites, a monk from Mount Athos. The rock on which the Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron stands, rises over 2,000 feet above sea level.

The old building of the monastery serves nowadays as the main museum for tourists. Among the exhibits of the museum are wood-carved crosses, important religious manuscripts and rare ricons.