St. John the Theologian Kalyve Commemorations
Saint John the Theologian kalyve is located in the skete of Katounakia in Mount Athos. The skete belongs to the monastery of the Great Lavra.
The founder of the kalyve was Hieromonk John, the first disciple of the Saint Daniel of Katounakia from the Brotherhood of Danielites. Together with Father Athanasius he later left the brotherhood: Athanasius entered the world, while John founded an "isihastirion" (Greek: ησυχαστήριο — "place of silence/retreat") in Athos dedicated to Saint John the Theologian.
The first church was built here in 1916. Subsequently, the isihastirion was destroyed and remained uninhabited for many years. In 1970, the neighboring brotherhood of Father Clement took the kalyve under their care. They demolished the old church and built a new one on its stone foundation—smaller in size, but more durable.
Since 2012, Hieromonk Panteleimon has been living in the kalyve of Saint John the Theologian, having spent the previous 25 years with his elder, Father Cyril, in the kalyve of the Annunciation of the Theotokos. Each morning in the kalyve begins with the Divine Liturgy, followed by numerous household chores and craft activities. Father Panteleimon's calendar year is divided into two equal periods: from October to Easter, he is occupied with weaving komboskini — monastic prayer ropes and bracelets, while from Easter to October, he engages in external work to cover the various needs of the kalyve.
