Monasteries of Mount Athos

The Docheiariou Monastery, dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, ranks tenth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. Built on sloping ground by the sea, it is the first monastery along the coastline of the Athonite peninsula. It is a harmonious architectural ensemble with a purely fort-like character, consisting of walls and multi-storey buildings, the katholikon in the center of a confined courtyard, the prominent tower and various chapels.  

Its establishment dates back to the late 10th or early 11th century and is associated with monk Euthymios according to the Monastery’s Narrative, who was the storekeeper (docheiaris) of the Megisti Lavra monastery at the time of St. Athanasius the Athonite. Euthymios established a monastery in Daphne dedicated to St. Nicholas called Docheiariou, on account of the task he was previously assigned to. Around the middle of the 11th century, it was transferred to its present location, due to frequent Saracen raids. According to the Narrative, Euthymios handed over the abbotship to his nephew, Neophytos. Among the works of Neophytos was the construction of a new katholikon, which was completed in 1118, based on an inscription in the NW column. That same year, according to the Rule of Neophytos – which essentially constitutes the first typikon of the monastery – the new church of Docheiariou is dedicated to the archangel Michael. The miracle of finding treasure could be considered as historically accurate during the aforementioned period, as in 1112, Neophytos made purchases with coins two centuries old. 

For centuries thereafter, despite the protection and donations of Byzantine emperors and rulers, including Andronicus II Palaeologus, the monastery fell into decline at the end of the 15th century due to hardships and raids. During the years of Ottoman rule, and particularly in the 16th century, new activity was observed in the monastery, which is associated with Abbot Germanos, according to tradition. It is worth noting that, in 1547, the current T-shaped refectory was built over the old Byzantine refectory, and the ktetor was the archbishop of Justiniana Prima (Ohrid), Prochorus. 

The katholikon was also reconstructed in the second half of the 16th century; it dominates due to its height, the extended lite and the narthex. Works were carried out during the abbotship of Theofilos and thanks to the contributions of Ioan Alexandru Lăpușneanu, ruler of Moldavia (1552-1561 and 1563/64-1568), his wife Ruxandra and their son Bogdan (1568-1572), who are depicted in the lite of the katholikon. The construction of the katholikon seems to have taken place in the years 1562 or 1563, according to a reference in the codex of the monastery, as well as the inscriptions on the miraculous icon of Virgin Gorgoepikoos and the icon of Virgin Rematokratorissa. 1568 is the year of completion of the wall painting of the katholikon, attributed to the well-known painter Tzortzis or Zorzis the “Cretan”, as mentioned in the ktetoric inscription above the lintel of the central entrance of the nave. The sculpted decoration of the Byzantine period is still preserved in the katholikon such as the columns with the capitals, the marble iconostasis and its parapets placed in second use. The one depicting the Ascension of Alexander the Great stands out. The richly gilded wood-carved iconostasis dates back to 1783, however, the crucifix with the mourning Virgin Mary and St. John and the icons of the Great Deesis from the oldest wood-carved iconostasis of the second half of the 16th century are preserved in different parts of the katholikon and in the chamber where icons are kept in the monastery.

The refectory of the monastery was frescoed in two phases during the second half of the 17th century. In 1676, the niche of the refectory was decorated by a crew that also undertook to restore the dome decoration of the katholikon, while in 1700, the rest of its surfaces were painted, a work attributed to priestmonk Damaskinos of Ioannina.

There are nine chapels in the monastery. The venerable miraculous icon of Virgin Gorgoepikoos, patron of the monastery, is of considerable importance, as well as the namesake chapel dating back to 1723, which are found on either side of the refectory entrance.

The library of the monastery is particularly significant, where more than 400 manuscripts and approximately 5.000 printed books are kept, while 60 documents from the Byzantine period, among others, are preserved in its archive.

Nikolaos Siomkos

References

Oikonomidès N. (éd.), Actes de Docheiariou (Archives de l’Athos XIII), Paris 1984. 

Παρουσία Ιεράς Μονής Δοχειαρίου, Άγιον Όρος 2001.

Σιώμκος N., «Φορητή εικόνα της Παναγίας Ρεματοκρατόρισσας και η ανοικοδόμηση του καθολικού της Ι. Μ. Δοχειαρίου κατά τον 16ο αιώνα», Στ΄ Διεθνές Επιστημονικό Συνέδριο της Αγιορειτικής Εστίας Πρακτικά Συνεδρίου «Το Άγιον Όρος στον 15ο και 16ο αιώνα», (Θεσσαλονίκη, 25-27 Νοεμβρίου 2011), Θεσσαλονίκη 2012, σ. 431-445.

Ταβλάκης I. και Σιώμκος N., «Έργο συντήρησης τοιχογραφιών στο Άγιον Όρος. Η περίπτωση του τρούλου του καθολικού της Ι. Μ. Δοχειαρίου», ΑΕΜΘ 18 (2004), σ. 199-212.

Ταβλάκης I. και Σιώμκος N., «Φορητές εικόνες από το παλαιό ξυλόγλυπτο τέμπλο του καθολικού της Ι. Μ. Δοχειαρίου Αγίου Όρους», Πεπραγμένα Ι΄ Διεθνούς Κρητολογικού Συνεδρίου, (Χανιά, 1-8 Οκτωβρίου 2006), τ. Β3, Χανιά 2011, σ. 235-255.