Σιμωνόπετρα | |
Monastery information | |
---|---|
Full name | Holy Monastery of Simonopetra |
Other names | Simonos Petra |
Order | Ecumenical Patriarchate |
Established | 13th century |
Dedicated to | Nativity of Jesus |
Diocese | Mount Athos |
People | |
Founder(s) | Simon the Athonite |
Prior | Archimandrite Elder Eliseus |
Site | |
Location | Mount Athos, Greece |
Coordinates | 40°11′23″N 24°14′44″E / 40.189722°N 24.245556°E |
Public access | Men only |
Simonopetra Monastery (Greek: Σιμωνόπετρα, literally: "Simon's Rock"), also Monastery of Simonos Petra (Greek: Μονή Σίμωνος Πέτρας), is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece. It ranks 13th in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries.
It is on the southern coast of the Athos peninsula, between the Athonite port of Dafni and Osiou Grigoriou monastery. While the southern coast of Athos is generally quite rugged, the site upon which the monastery is built is exceptionally harsh. It is built on top of a single huge rock, practically hanging from a cliff 330 metres over the sea.[1] It currently houses 54 monks. Its hegumen is Archimandrite Eliseus.