Stavronikita Monastery
Stavronikita Monastery is one of the 20 self-governing Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Mount Athos. It is ranked fifteenth in the Athonite, the hierarchical order of the twenty monasteries on Mount Athos.
About this building
It is one of smallest athonite monasteries. The many stories about its origins make it difficult to know exactly when it was founded, but it is believed to have occurred sometime between the 10th and 11th centuries. The monastery has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt throughout its history. Despite this, it preserves wall paintings attributed to the Cretan School.
The katholikon or monastery church is dedicated to Saint Nicolas and was built between 1527-1536. It treasures an well-known icon of the saint named "O Streidas” (of the Oyster).
