Monastery of Iviron

The Monastery of Iviron (Georgian: ათონის ივერთა მონასტერი, romanized: atonis iverta monast'eri ; Greek: Μονή Ιβήρων, romanized: Monḗ Ivirōn) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic community of Mount Athos in northern Greece. The monastery was built under the supervision of two Georgian monks, John the Iberian and John Tornike, between AD 980–983. It is regarded as the historic Georgian monastery on Mount Athos and was traditionally inhabited by Georgian Orthodox monks.^[1]

The Sacred Patriarchal and Stavopegial Monastery Iviron

Ἡ Ἱερὰ Πατριαρχικὴ καὶ Σταυροπηγιακὴ Μονὴ Ἰβήρων
Monastery as seen from a nearby trail
Location within Mount Athos
Monastery information
Denomination	Eastern Orthodoxy
Established	between 980-983
Dedicated to	Dormition of the Theotokos
Archdiocese	Constantinople (Stavropegial)
People
Founders	John the Iberian and John Tornike
Abbot	Archimandrite Nathanael
Archbishop	Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople
Important associated figures	George of Athos, John Tornike, John the Iberian, Gabriel the Iberian Euthymius of Athos, Archimandrite Averchie
Architecture
Status	Open and functioning
Heritage designation	UNESCO World Heritage Site
Designated date	1988
Site
Location	Mount Athos
Country	Greece
Coordinates	40.2455°N 24.2848°E / 40.2455; 24.2848
Public access	Men only, with an access permit (διαμονητήριον)
Website	Iveron at the Mount Athos website

History

The monastery was built under the supervision of two Georgian monks, John the Iberian and John Tornike between AD 980–83 and housed Georgian clergy and priests. It was founded on the site of the former Monastery of Clement. John the Iberian was appointed as the abbot of the newly founded monastery in 980. In 1005, Euthymius the Iberian became the secondary abbot of Iviron Monastery.^[2] In Greek, Iviron literally means "of the Iberians".

In the Middle Ages, the monastery became a center of Georgian religious culture. A large group of Georgian scholars and calligraphers was active at the monastery. Under their guidance, extensive cultural and creative activities flourished: original works were composed, and significant Byzantine theological texts were translated into Georgian. The monastery received substantial financial support from Georgian monarchs. Today, it is mainly inhabited by Greek monks, although at the beginning of the 20th century, there were still 48 Georgian monks.^[3]

The monastery ranks third in the Athonite hierarchy of 20 sovereign monasteries.^[4]

Notable people

• John Tornike (died 985)
• John the Iberian (died c. 1002)
• Gabriel the Iberian (c. 10th century)
• Euthymius of Athos (c. 955-1028)
• George the Hagiorite (1009-1065)
• Archimandrite Averchie (1806/1818–?), Aromanian monk and schoolteacher

Gallery

• 
  View of the main monastery complex
• 
  View of the sea