The large building complex known as the “Russian” is located north of Dafni, on the northwestern side of the Athos peninsula. Its origin dates back to two Byzantine monasteries, the Monastery of the Theotokos of the Carpenter and the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon, which merged in the 12th century. The Monastery of the Carpenter, located at the site of the current Skete of the Theotokos, was inhabited by Russian monks in the 11th century.
The Monastery of Saint Panteleimon, the current “Palaio Monastery,” was abandoned in 1169 when it was taken over by Russian ascetics. At that time, permission was granted by the “First” of the Holy Mountain to the Rus (the medieval Russians) to renovate and fortify the monastery. After it was set on fire in the 13th century, it came under the protection of Serbian rulers and experienced a period of prosperity. The current monastery was built in 1765 with the assistance of the Phanariot family of the Kallimachides, who were rulers of Wallachia.
In 1835, the first Russian monks began arriving after a long absence, and in 1875, the first Russian-born abbot was elected. The generous donations from the Tsarist family brought great prestige and power to the monastery, which by the early 20th century surpassed 1,000 monks, with an equal number of workers, professionals, and visiting guests. The turmoil caused by the heresy of the Onomato-latrists led many to exile, and the October Revolution interrupted the influx of new monks.
On the roof of the catholicon, eight bulbous domes in Russian style rise. It is dedicated to the name of Saint Panteleimon and, according to the inscription, was built between 1812 and 1821 by Skarlatos Kallimachides. It combines elements of Russian church architecture with the Athonite style. The divine services are conducted alternately in Greek and Russian, as prescribed by the sigillion.
The monastery has 35 chapels. Opposite the entrance of the Catholicon stands the independent building of the Refectory, which was erected in 1893. Its size is impressive, as it can accommodate up to 1,000 people. Equally remarkable is the large bell in the bell tower, which, as is said, can be heard as far as the Sporades when it rings! It has a circumference of 8.71 meters, a diameter of 2.71 meters, and weighs 13,000 kilograms!
Text: Dr. Antonios G. Dikaios / Theologian – Environmentalist.
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