Great Lavra

Great Lavra
Μεγίστη Λαύρα
External view of the monastery.
Great Lavra is located in Mount Athos
Great Lavra
Location within Mount Athos
Monastery information
Full nameHoly Monastery of Great Lavra
OrderEcumenical Patriarchate
Dedicated toAnnunciation of the Blessed Virgin
DioceseMount Athos
People
Founder(s)Athanasius the Athonite
PriorArchimandrite Elder Prodromos
Site
LocationMount Athos, Greece
Coordinates40°10′16″N 24°22′58″E / 40.171111°N 24.382778°E / 40.171111; 24.382778
Public accessMen only

The Monastery of Great Lavra (Greek: Μονή Μεγίστης Λαύρας) is the first monastery built on Mount Athos, on the Athos peninsula in northeastern Greece. It is located on the southeastern foot of the Mount at an elevation of 160 metres (170 yd). The founding of the monastery in AD 963 by Athanasius the Athonite marks the beginning of the organized monastic life at Mount Athos. At the location of the monastery, there was one of the ancient cities of the Athos peninsula, perhaps Akrothooi, from which the sarcophagi of the monastery that are in the oil storage house come. The history of the monastery is the most complete compared to the history of the other monasteries, because its historical archives were preserved almost intact. It is possible that the study of these archives may contribute to the completion of the knowledge of the history of other monasteries, whose archives were partially or completely lost.