Monastery of Docheiariou

The Monastery of Docheiariou, tenth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries, traces its foundation to the second half of the 10th century. Its origin is credited to Euthymios, a pupil of Saint Athanasius of the Great Lavra, whose role as keeper of the "Docheion" (vessel) lent the house its name. Dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, it keeps its patronal feast on November 8th. The present katholikon, an attractive and well-lit 16th-century structure, was built and frescoed around 1568, with its wall-paintings belonging to the Cretan School; the Refectory received its own decoration in 1675 and, on the northern side, in 1700. The great tower, a five-storey, almost rectangular construction measuring 8.8 by 8.5 metres and rising 28 metres, was begun in the mid-16th century and completed in 1617, thanks to the patronage of John-Alexander Lapousneanou, ruler of Moldavia. The whole stands in good condition today.