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It is one of the oldest monastic establishments on Mount Athos. It stands in the middle of the western side of Mount Athos, between the monasteries of Pantheleimonos and Docheiariou. The Monastery of Xenofontos has had disputes over property issues and its ranking in the Athonite hierarchy, especially with the latter.
Although oral tradition places its foundation in the 6th century, written records indicate that the monastery appears before the end of the 10th century. Its founder is Saint Xenofontos, who also served as its abbot. Initially, it honored the memory of Saint George and had small dimensions. In 1083, it gained a second founder when the Byzantine admiral (droungarios) Stephen was tonsured a monk under the name Symeon, expanding the monastic complex. However, its coastal location led to a destructive raid by Latin pirates in 1225. It managed to recover in the early 14th century, under the abbacy of Barlaam (1312–1325).
From 1425 onwards, the monastery entered a dark historical period, during which it came under the control of Slavic monks. During the Ottoman period, it was supported by donations from the faithful from Wallachia, by the income from the “Rombas” Skete, and by the revenues from two villages granted to it by Romanian princes. It also held properties in Thessalonica, Chalkidiki, and Lemnos. A distinctive feature of the Monastery of Xenofontos is its two catholicons, both dedicated to Saint George. The older of the two dates from the 11th century, and its narthex adjoins the eastern side of the refectory. It is one of the smaller churches on Mount Athos, with frescoes from the Cretan School of 1544 in the main church, attributed to the iconographer Antonios.
The narthex was painted in 1564 by Theophanes, who also painted the Monastery of Stavronikita. Notable for its wood-carving technique, the monastery’s 17th-century iconostasis is a distinctive feature. The newer and much larger catholicon, located in the northern part of the courtyard, was completed in 1837. It has a marble iconostasis made of marble from Tinos and Mount Athos.
The monastery has 11 chapels, three of which are decorated with frescoes. In the treasury, among other items, there is a relief icon of the Transfiguration from the 13th century made of steatite stone, and mosaic icons of Saint George and Saint Demetrius, dating from the second half of the 12th century. An annex to the monastery is the Skete of the Annunciation, founded in 1766, where monks are engaged in iconography, bookbinding, and wood carving.
Text: Dr. Antonios G. Dikaios / Theologian – Environmentalist.
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