Gregoriou Monastery

The Holy Monastery of Saint Gregory (Greek: Ιερά Μονή Οσίου Γρηγορίου), also known as Gregoriou Monastery (Greek: Μονή Γρηγορίου) is an Orthodox Christian monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece. The Monastery ranks seventeenth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. It is built by the sea, on the southeastern side of the peninsula, neighboring the monasteries of Simonopetras and Dionysiou. Gregoriou is very much a pilgrim friendly monastery with a strong sense of pastoral care. Pilgrim visitors are numerous and well provided for. The Monastery is completely girt by the sea, built on a corner of land jutting into the sea, with only steep craggy rocks backed up behind it.

Gregoriou Monastery
Μονή Γρηγορίου
View of the monastery from sea level.
Gregoriou Monastery is located in Mount Athos
Gregoriou Monastery
Location within Mount Athos
Monastery information
Full nameHoly Monastery of Saint Gregory

or

Holy Monastery of Osiou Gregoriou
OrderEcumenical Patriarchate
Dedicated toSaint Nicholas
DioceseMount Athos
People
Founder(s)Saint Gregory the Hesycast (Dec. 7)
AbbotArchimandrite Elder Christopher
Important associated figuresArchimandrite Elder Symeon (1859-1905)

Archimandrite Elder Athanasios (1924-1937)

Archimandrite Elder George Kapsanis (1974-2014)
Site
LocationMount Athos, Greece
Coordinates40.1793°N 24.2555°E / 40.1793; 24.2555

History

The Monastery was founded in 1310 by Saint Gregory the Hesychast (Dec. 7), a Serbian monk that dwelled in a cave, which still exists, about 20 minutes up from the Monastery. He dedicated the Monastery and the main church to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker (Dec. 6). Saint Anastasia of Rome (Oct. 29) is officially considered the third patron saint of the Monastery, due to her holy relics that are kept there and the many miracles she performs.

Gregoriou Monastery had burnt down twice, first in 1496 and later in 1761. After the second fire, reconstruction began almost immediately. This is today's "old courtyard", consisting of the main church of St. Nicholas and most of the surrounding buildings. Due to an increase of monks since then, extensions have been added. The first entrance, following courtyard and surrounding buildings were added in 1892, and the new five story wing located east of the main church was added in 1997. Restorations are always in progress in order to maintain the monastery as functional for the life of the brothers and pilgrims.

By the end of the 15th century, according to the Russian pilgrim Isaiah, the monastery was half Greek and half Slav.[1]

As of 2020, the brotherhood consists of over 90 monks. The Monastery is known for its involvement and contributions to theological dialogues, and for its many publications of theological and pastoral books. One way the brothers support themselves is through their handicrafts. They produce high quality traditional Athonite incense, and natural handmade olive oil soap.

The monastery holds about 300 manuscripts, of which 11 are on parchment, and it has approximately 20,000 printed books.

Notable people
  • Abbot Vissarion of Gregoriou (d. 1974)[2]
  • Archimandrite Georgios (Kapsanis) (1935–8 June 2014), Abbot of Grigoriou Monastery from 1974 to 2014[3]

References
  1. A. E. Bakalopulos (1973). History of Macedonia, 1354-1833. [By] A.E. Vacalopoulos. p. 166. At the end of the 15th century, the Russian pilgrim Isaiah relates that the monks support themselves with various kinds of work including the cultivation of their vineyards....He also tells us that nearly half the monasteries are Slav or Albanian. As Serbian he instances Docheiariou, Grigoriou, Ayiou Pavlou, a monastery near Ayiou Pavlou and dedicated to St. John the Theologian (he no doubt means the monastery of Ayiou Dionysiou), and Chilandariou. Panteleïmon is Russian, Simonopetra is Bulgarian, and Karakallou and Philotheou are Albanian. Zographou, Kastamonitou (see fig. 58), Xeropotamou, Koutloumousiou, Xenophontos, Iveron and Protaton he mentions without any designation; while Lavra, Vatopedi (see fig. 59), Pantokratoros, and Stavronikita (which had been recently founded by the patriarch Jeremiah I) he names specifically as being Greek (see map 6)
  2. Dorobantu, Marius (2017-08-28). Hesychasm, the Jesus Prayer and the contemporary spiritual revival of Mount Athos (Master's thesis). Nijmegen: Radboud University. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  3. "Fr. George Kapsanis, Former Abbot of Gregoriou Monastery of Mount Athos (+ June 8, 2014) [1 of 3]". www.johnsanidopoulos.com. 2014-06-08. Retrieved 2022-08-28.

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