Karakallou Monastery

General info

Phone: (+30) 23770 23 225

Fax: (+30) 23770 23 746

Representative Office (Karyes): (+30) 23770 23 279

Residence (Thessaloniki): (+30) 2310 421 248

E-mail: [email protected]

Dedication: Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

Date of foundation: late 10^th - early 11^th century

Hierarchical position: 11/20

Holy Oversight: Vatopedi, Koutloumousiou, Karakallou, Stavronikita

Cenobitic from: 1813 (sigillion of Patriarch Cyril VI)

Monks: 30 monastic, 7 living in subordinate monastic establishments

Subordinate establishments: 17 cells (4 inhabited)

Celebrations:

✓ 29/6 [12/7] Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (main temple celebration, great all-night vigil)

✓ 9/5 [22/5] Saint Christopher

✓ 30/12 [12/1] Holy New Venerable Martyr Gideon

✓ Bright Week Monday (Litany of the Patron Icon of the Monastery)

Relics: holy relics, holy icons of the Apostles Peter and Paul, Theotokos Vrefokratousa (Child Holding)

Visit: main temple, cemetery temple, arsanas tower

History and present days

The Monastery of Karakallou is built in a prominent location, surrounded by streams and lush green vegetation, at an altitude of 200 meters above sea level. It is small in size, with a distinct fortification character. Its ground plan forms a quadrilateral. On the west side, the defensive tower dominates. The balconies and the carved wooden details, with their elegance and color, create a beautiful impression to the northern part, while the southern part, in contrast, conveys a sense of severity. Beyond the tower, there can be seen the colorful domes of the Cell of the Holy Cross. Further to the right on the slope there is the Cell of the Three Hierarchs that belongs to the Karakallou Monastery. The cell on the slope east of the monastery is a dependency of the Monastery of Great Lavra.

History

The monastery is dedicated to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. This was its original name, which was later replaced by the name "Karakallou," leading to various etymologies and interpretations. According to one tradition, its founder was the Roman Emperor Caracalla, a pagan and persecutor of Christians, who is depicted in a popular fresco on the north wall of the cemetery's exonarthex. Some scholars believe that only the seaside tower dates back to the Roman emperor, while others derive the name from “Karyai Kalae” (Good Karyes) referring to the rich forest of hazelnut trees surrounding the monastery, or from the Turkish "kara-kule" (black tower). More likely, the name originates from a farmer named Nikolaos, a member of the Byzantine Karakalla family from Dimitsana.

A document from the First Typikon (1018) defines the boundaries of the Monasteries of Karakallou and Amalfinou, proving the monastery's existence at that time. In Monomachos' Typikon (1046), there is no mention of the monastery, but a document from the First Typikon (1087) refers to its abbot, Michael. In the 13th century, the monastery suffered destruction from pirate raids and Latin occupations. In 1294, Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos issued a golden bull granting privileges and securing the monastery's possessions to aid in its reconstruction. Isaac I and Patriarch Athanasius showed particular interest in its restoration.

Following its reconstruction, the monastery flourished and its monastic population grew. To meet its needs, the monastery acquired metochia in Thessaloniki, the Struma valley, and Lemnos. In 1324, a document signed by the Protos granted the monastery the small Cell of Exypolytus to ensure an uninterrupted water supply.

However, prosperity was followed by new destructions by pirates. In 1548, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent issued a firman allowing the rebuilding of the church. The reconstruction was supported by the rulers of Wallachia, Peter V Rares (1527–38) and his son-in-law Alexander IV Depusnianos (1557–62), who became a monk shortly before his death, taking the name Pachomius. His wife, Roxandra, generously supported the athonite monasteries. In the 17th century, the ruler of Iberia (Georgia), Arthil, and his brother Vakhtang provided financial aid. The monastery reached its greatest prosperity in the 18th century, and in 1813, was restored to the cenobitic system by a patriarchal decree of Cyril VI. However, it soon suffered great devastation, when Ottoman troops occupied Mount Athos after the 1821 Revolution in Chalkidiki. In 1875, the south and east wings were destroyed by fire. During the second half of the 19th century, many Russians settled in nearby cells (Holy Cross) with the intention of transforming them into cenobitic sketes and eventually integrate them to the monastery. Their plans, however, did not succeed. In 1988, a lightning-induced fire destroyed the top three floors of the monastery's northern corner. The wing was subsequently restored by the authorities responsible for the athonite legacy.

In the Monastery of Karakallou, the Holy New Martyr Gideon lived for 35 years. Born near Velestino, he was forcibly converted to Islam, later repented, became a monk and then a martyr in 1818 in Tyrnavos, Thessaly, where he is honored as the patron saint. Another saint associated with the monastery was Saint Gervasios the Athonite and Fool-for-Christ (commemorated on October 11), who came from the village of Gomati in Chalkidiki. His sanctity was realized only after his passing in 1830, when his holy relic emitted a miraculous fragrance.

The Seaside Tower

Monastery yard

At the opening of the ravine that crosses the road to the sea, there is a small elegant stone bridge. A little further on, we find the seaside tower of the Monastery of Karakallou, arguably the most beautiful tower in Mount Athos. It is built next to the monastery's current arsanas, on a rock at a height of 15 meters above the sea.

It is an independent structure, standing 21.60 meters high, with dimensions at its square base of 7.25 x 7.30 meters. It is built with large rough stones and strong mortar, incorporating pieces of marble. The structure features battlements. Unfortunately, nothing remains of the interior. The structure is probably of late Byzantine origin.

The fortified bastion was added in 1534 at the expense of the Wallachian ruler Peter V Rares (1527-1538). On the western facade of the porch, there is a cross-shaped ceramic-plaster decoration. Below the porch there is the entrance to the area of the bastion. A marble inscription on the wall informs us that during the reign of Germain, “John Peter the voivode/Joasaph the monk founder/Syropoulos Dionysios X [Hatzis] and/the first master until 1534, the tower and the bastion were completed”. This is a rare case where the name of the craftsman has been preserved on a building in Mount Athos. Architectural traces indicate that the interior of the bastion was once covered by a roof and included hospitality areas, a chapel, and a trapeza. According to tradition, Peter the voivode sent a man with a substantial amount of money to renovate the Monastery of Karakallou. However, the man built only the bastion and then left with the remaining funds. When Peter the voivode realised what happened, he got furious. To save his life, the man promised to renovate the monastery at his own expense. Peter forgave him and traveled to Mount Athos, where they both became monks, taking the name Pachomios.

Monastery Guide

Tower of Karakal Monastery

Opposite the western side of the building complex, there are auxiliary buildings, two fountains (the higher one dated in 1818), and a large plane tree used as a kiosk. At the north of the tree, there is the cemetery church (All Saints, 1768), which features a gilded wooden-carved iconostasis and remarkable frescoes. On the west wall of the narthex, there is a depiction of Saint Sisoes the Great standing over the tomb of Alexander the Great. In the representation of the Dormition, the Virgin Mary rests her head on the right. Southwest on the slope, beyond the auxiliary buildings, lies the dilapidated chapel of Saint Paraskevi. Opposite the entrance stands a domed fountain (1801) with a notable baroque relief, also used as a holy water font. Next to the fountain there is the chapel of Saint Theodoroi.

The entrance to the monastery is located on the west side, at the base of the tower. It was originally larger, but was built up in order to be confined. The tower rises 28 meters from the courtyard and consists of a ground floor and five more spaces. The dimensions at the base of the building are 10 x 8.80 meters. There are spandrels along the entire length of each side, with two additional ones on the west and south sides. The ground floor contains a cistern that supplies the courtyard fountain. On the fifth floor there is the chapel of Saint Anna, which features a cross-shaped ceramic ornament on the east facade.

A small transept leads to the courtyard, which is relatively small and almost entirely occupied by the katholikon. The lack of space is evident from the absence of a proper trapeza. The warm, purple-red plaster of the katholikon walls contrasts with the confined space with the wooden open balconies.

The monastery's buildings can be categorized into four construction phases:

Mid-16th century: foundations of the church, cell wings.
18th century: additions and renovations.
After the fire of 1875: south wing, trapeza, part of the east wing.
After 1991: reconstruction of the northeast wing destroyed by fire. The 1988 fire brought a general renovation of the wings.

The katholikon was founded in 1548 and completed in 1563, with renovations occurring in the 18th century. It is dedicated to the memory of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. During the tenure of Patriarch Nicodemus, the bell tower (1710) and the exonarthex (1714) were added, funded by Hieromonk Gerasimos. The chapel of Saints Panteleimon and George is housed within the bell tower. In front of the entrance, there are two mosaics, while the exonarthex floor is paved with tiles. The central dome features an image of the Almighty, the north dome depicts Christ as Emmanuel, and the south dome contains an image of the Life-giving Spring. Above the entrance lintel, there is the depiction of the Synaxis of the Apostles. To the left and right of the entrance, there are arches, with the right one having been reduced in size.

The frescoes in the exonarthex (1767 or 1763) depict scenes from the Apocalypse. One can also find representations from the monastery's new founders, the monks Pachomios, Saint Charalampos, Hosiomartyr Nicodemos and Saint Anthony of Veria. The frescoes in the lity (1750) were created by the monks Seraphim and Kosmas from Ioannina. Particularly striking is the depiction of the martyrdom of Saint Straton, who is torn apart between two trees (north wall). The temple of Karakal Monastery

The wooden door leaves of the entrance to the nave date back to 1592 and were decorated by the monk Theophanes. Some of the illuminated windows in the central dome remain closed. Since the Almighty of the dome is said to have spoken to Gideon, the chandelier has been hung from the corners of the pews, instead of hanging from the middle of the dome, in honor of the miracle. The frescoes in the nave (1716) were created by the monks John and Damascene. The wood-carved post-Byzantine iconostasis contains a portable icon of the Twelve Apostles, painted by Dionysius of Fourna (1722). Another portable icon of the Nativity, located in the iconostasis, is attributed to the same artist or his workshop, notable for its delicate color sensitivity in the representation of rocks and landscapes. The manger's decoration with precious stones is also remarkable. This icon appears to have influenced the representation of the Nativity in the church's iconographic cycle.

On a shrine to the left, there is an icon of the Embrace of Saints Peter and Paul, painted by Constantine Paleokapas (1540) with a later cover. The icon of the Infant Virgin in the shrine to the left of the chancel lacks an inscription. It is, however, said to perform miracles. Another significant piece is a large portable icon of the holy young martyr Gideon, depicting scenes from his life.

The marble paving of the katholikon (1859) is a work of the master craftsman Demetrios Mavromaris and is associated with a miracle. The marble paving could not be completed because there were not enough materials in the monastery. Then, one of the fathers saw a monstrous sea serpent near the arsanas during a vigil. The monks went to search for it and indeed found a sperm whale (a kind of small aegean whale) stranded in the shallows. They used its fat to make fish glue and affix the marble. A vertebra and two sides of its ribs are now kept in the monastery's museum, located on the ground floor of the north wing.

Within the monastery wings, there are five chapels, one of Saint John the Merciful, of Saint Joseph, of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and of Martyr Gideon.

The old trapeza was built and decorated in 1687. The current structure (1876) is located in the south wing. Its floor plan forms a parallelogram, while there are three niches in the east wall. A later fresco in the central niche depicts the Last Supper and the Holy Hierarchs. There are no other frescoes, though there are many portable icons of significant size. Steps leading to the basement of the trapeza provide access to the wine storage room and the wine cellar.

The library is now housed on the ground floor of the east wing. It contains 279 manuscript codices, including 42 parchments, some of which are also illustrated. The oldest codex is a 9th-century manuscript. Noteworthy items include a 13th-century gospel book, a liturgical parchment scroll (1431), an epitaph (1634) and an elaborate wood-carved engolpion adorned with many representations. The monastery's archives include documents, golden bulls, lead-sealed decrees, and sultan firmans.

The inner courtyard of the Karakal Monastery

The monastery's dependences include 17 cells. Three are located in Karyes, while the rest are scattered in the forest northwest of the monastery. The cells of the Three Hierarchs, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Nicholas and the Holy Cross are all inhabited. The rest are in ruins, except for the church of the Cell of the Exipolite, which is still preserved.

The monastery's metochia are in Kassandra, Thasos, Ierissos, Gallipoli, Kio, Rethymno, and Agios Efstratios. From the point of the pro-theistic workhouse, the carriage road on the left continues along the coast, ending at Great Lavra and the Romanian Skete of Saint John the Forerunner. This is the main road along the southeastern coast, following the shape of the coastline as well as the old path, which lies lower and closer to the sea. The path is not always easy to cross, and in many places, it has also been lost. Stone-built arched bridges at the mouths of the coastal streams serve as reminders of its existence.

Beyond the workhouse, the road descends to the arsanas of the Monastery of Philotheou. A long brick building serves as a timber warehouse. The cell of the arsanas contains a temple dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Shortly after the arsanas, the Holy Shrine of Theotokos Glykofilousa (the Sweetly Kissing) is found. Water from the sanctuary flows continuously at the same temperature. According to tradition, this is where the icon of the Virgin Mary, known as Theotokos Glykofilousa, arrived. It is now venerated as the central icon of the Philotheou Monastery.

Holy Icons

The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

Holy relics

Karakallou monastery holy relics

The holy relics of the monastery include a piece of the Holy Wood. There are also sacred relics of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, Saint Christopher and Saint Mercurius, along with the right hand of Saint Theodore Stratelates, which emits a remarkable fragrance. Additional relics include those of Saints John the Merciful, John the Baptist, Charalampos, Orestes, Averkios and Gideon the New Martyr.