It's built on a narrow and precipitous neck of rock, 80 meters above the sea and is situated on the SW side of the peninsula between monasteries of Gregoriou and St Paul.
Great Lavra is the earliest and biggest foundation on Mount Athos, founded in 963 by monk Athanasios and this event marks the change-over on Athos from the individual ascethic life to organized monasticim. The chosen site for the monastery was probably th
Tradition says that the monastery was founded in the second half of the 12th century by Euthymios, supposedly a disciple of St Athanasios. He was docheiares at Great Lavra, that is to say he was in charge of oil and other foodstuffs there.
Karies is the so called "capitol city" of the monks republic of Athos. It is the seat of the Protós (the First), to the spiritual leader of all monasteries of the monk's republic which is elected by the meeting of the abbots in each case on lifetime.
Tagzania
