The seaside Monastery of Grigoriou stands on the southwestern side of the Athos peninsula, between the Simonos Petras and Dionysiou monasteries. Sources testify to its existence since 1347, and St. Grigorius of Sinai is recognized by the monastic brotherhood as its founder. It faced a critical situation in 1500 due to raids by Saracen pirates and was renovated with the sponsorship of the Prince of Moldavia, Stefan. In the 16th century, the northern wing was built, which divides the courtyards, along with the bell tower and the tower.
The monastery was destroyed by fire in 1761 and was rebuilt with the donations of the Prince of Ungrovlachia during the tenure of Abbot Ioakeim Makrygenis. The soul of this renovation project was the sacristan of the monastery, Ioakeim the Akarnanian. It went through a period of severe financial difficulties during the Revolution, which led the monks to request it to become a dependency of the Great Lavra monastery. A new era began in 1859 when its abbot, Simeon, cleared the monastery’s debts and built new buildings.
After the fire of 1761, the relatively small katholikon with a double narthex was built. It is dedicated to St. Nicholas and was expanded in 1840 with the outer narthex. It was frescoed in 1779 by the monks Gabriel and Grigorius from Kastoria, with frescoes showing strong folk influences. The wooden iconostasis, with scenes from the Holy Bible, is considered one of the most artistically significant in Mount Athos. The monastery houses about 297 manuscripts and 6,000 printed works. It also has a portable icon, the Virgin Galaktotrophousa from the 17th century, depicting the rare theme of the Theotokos nursing the Christ child. The patron image of the monastery is the Virgin Mary, called “Paleologina,” whose inscription reads: “The supplication of the most pious lady Maria Asanina Paleologina, lady of Moldavia.”
Text: Dr. Antonios G. Dikaios / Theologian – Environmentalist.
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