The monastery is located on the very shore of the sea, to the north of St. Panteleimon's Monastery, which is an hour's walk away, four to Kary. According to legend, the monastery was founded in the 10th century by the Byzantine nobleman Xenophon, traditionally named after him. Since 1083 it has been rebuilt by another Greek nobleman Stefan Drungaria. The monastic records report that in the 11th century, during the reign of Emperor Nicephorus Botanian (1078–1081), the former navarch (commander of the Byzantine fleet) Simeon became a monk of Xenophon. The energetic monk, who did a lot for the well-being of his native monastery, was expelled from it by the brethren...
In the third Charter of the Holy Mountain (1394), Xenophon occupied the honorable 8th place, which testified to his great authority and well-being. Indeed, this monastery is one of the first rich Athos monasteries. His possessions on Mount Athos stretch for two hours along the sea coast and for an hour and a half in width - from the sea to the mountain heights. He owned rich dachas outside Mount Athos, in Macedonia and in the Wallachian principalities.
In addition, a considerable source of income was a mill located inside the monastery at a fast mountain spring. The requisitions of the Turks significantly weakened the monastery in the 15th-16th centuries, and the rulers of the Orthodox Danubian states contributed to its preservation. The monastery was rebuilt several times. So, in 1545, it was resumed by the Wallachian ruler Matthias Bassarab and his boyars Duka and Radul. Now Xenophon occupies the 16th place in the hierarchy of Athos monasteries.
The monastery traditionally looks like a fortress surrounded by high battlements of double masonry. The main gates of the monastery approach almost to the very edge of the coast. Its interior is vast and consists, as it were, of two courtyards. In the large courtyard at the beginning of the 19th century, a new cathedral was built in the name of the Great Martyr George the Victorious. The cathedral is made in oriental style and is considered one of the most majestic on the Holy Mountain. Its columns and luxurious, multi-colored iconostasis are made of Athos marble. The icons were painted by local masters of the 19th century.
In the new cathedral there are two precious mosaic icons of the XIV century, the Holy Great Martyrs George and Demetrius. The saints are depicted in full growth, facing the Savior, who descends from heaven and blesses them. Particularly revered in Xenophon is the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Hodegetria" ("Guide").
On the land belonging to the Xenof Monastery, there is the Xenof Skete. It is located in a secluded place near a deep stream that serves as the border of the Russian and Xenophic monasteries. The skete once belonged to the monastery of Katsari, the ruins of which are still visible. In 1363, due to the desolation of Katsari, by the decision of Prot and the abbots of the Holy Mountain, the skete was transferred to the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery. In a time of disaster for our monastery (since the middle of the 18th century), when almost complete desolation reigned in it, and Xenophon grew stronger, by the will of the Turkish government, this area was taken from Rusik under the jurisdiction of Xenoph.
Around 1760, the elder-confessor Hieromonk Sylvester, having settled here with other elders, lovers of silence, laid the foundation for the Xenofsky skete, in which the main skete church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos was built in 1766.
Among the monastery shrines is the head of martyr. Tryphon, the blood of the martyr. Demetrius of Thessalonica in a particle from his clothes. In Xenophon there are 8 chapels, and outside the monastery there are 25 small churches in the skete and at the cells. The library has many ancient manuscripts and books. There are 40 monks in the brotherhood of the monastery.
Located 15 km from Karei in the western part of the Holy Mountain.
Founded in the 10th century.
Patronal feast - St. George the Victorious.
Rector - Archimandrite Alexy.
It occupies the sixteenth place in the Svyatogorsk hierarchy.
Today, about 50 monks live in the monastery, living on its territory and beyond.
The monastery of Xenophon stands on the very shore of the sea. From the very beginning of the 16th century, Xenophon was inhabited by Serbs and Bulgarians, so worship was then conducted in the Slavic language. Subsequently, his brotherhood was filled with Greeks.
Foundation of the monastery
Its foundation is associated with St. Xenophon. This saint is mentioned in the life of the founder of the Great Lavra, St. Athanasius of Athos as the healer of Theodore, brother of St. Athanasius. In historical texts, the monastery is mentioned for the first time during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros III Votaniates (1078–1081). In the act of Prota for 1083, it is reported that the great Byzantine nobleman Stefan Drungaria arrived at the monastery, who became a monk and abbot here, taking the name Simeon, and took care of the reconstruction and expansion of the monastery, relying on his own funds and the help of the emperor. Therefore, the monastery as a whole flourished until the enslavement of Byzantium by the Turks. After the difficult period of the Crusades, the raids of the Saracens and the fall of Byzantium in 1453, the restoration of the monastery began. This was attended by the Wallachian boyar brothers Duka and Radul and the ruler of Ugrovlach Matei I Bassarab (1632–1654).
The miracle of the icon of St. George the Victorious
Dedication of the monastery of St. vmch. George the Victorious is associated with a legend about the times of iconoclastic persecution. One of the icons depicting St. vmch. George was thrown into the fire. The paint on the icon boiled from the heat, but the bright face of St. vmch. George. Seeing the miracle revealed, the iconoclasts were horrified, but did not come to their senses: one of them, angry, hit the holy image with a dagger - and the icon, as if alive, bled! The saints fled in fear. With the onset of darkness, one pious Christian took the holy image to the seashore and betrayed it to the waves, relying on the will of God.
Saint George directed his image to Athos. The waves carefully carried him to land near the present monastery of Xenophon, where at that time there was a small monastery of St. vmch. Demetrius of Thessalonica. The monks greeted the icon with reverence and joy, placed it in their church, and then built a church in honor of St. vmch. George. So the monastery took the name of St. George the Victorious.
History of Xenophon
Xenophon is the first of the monasteries, which, in accordance with the letter of Patriarch Gabriel IV of 1784, returned to a cenobitic way of life again. An important role in this change was played by the hieromonk and abbot of the monastery Paisios from Kavsokali. He successfully reconstructed and expanded the monastery.
In these actions, he was greatly assisted by the sacristan Konstantin and Archimandrite Zachary, who made a trip to different countries for this and collected a large sum of money. In 1817, as a result of a fire, a significant part of the monastery burned down, as well as many ancient documents. However, the monastery was soon restored and expanded, this time at the expense of the former Metropolitan of Samakovo Philotheus, who spent the rest of his life as a monk of the Xenophon Monastery. Therefore, all later reconstructions belong to the 19th century.
Monastic cathedrals
The monastery is surrounded by a high stone wall, fortified with a watchtower, and the main gate faces the sea. The courtyard is divided into two unequal parts.
In most of the courtyard there is a marble cathedral church, which was built in 1809-1819 at the expense of Metropolitan Philotheus and is dedicated to St. vmch. George the Victorious. Today this temple is the largest of the Greek temples on the Holy Mountain and is inferior in size only to the temples of the skete of St. Andrew and the skete of the prophet Elijah.
The iconostasis in the cathedral church is marble. Here are the miraculous icons of St. vmch. George and the Mother of God Hodegetria (Guides). Tradition says that this icon several times itself came from the Vatopedi monastery to the port of the Xenophon monastery.
A few meters from the entrance to the monastery there is a 16th-century church, which houses the mosaic icons of St. vmch. George the Victorious and St. vmch. Demetrius of Thessalonica and a small icon depicting the Transfiguration made of steatite (unprocessed talc ore). Fresco paintings here were made in 1564 by the Cretan painter Anthony. On the right side of the altar is a small chapel of St. Demetrius, which is considered the earliest building of the monastery. The carved wooden iconostasis of the temple dates back to the 17th century and is distinguished by the richness and elegance of its decor.
Shrines of Xenophon
In the monastery of Xenophon are parts of the relics of St. vmts. Marina, St. vmch. George, St. Modest, St. Jacob the Persian, schmch. Haralambos, St. vmch. Panteleimon, St. Paraskeva, St. indefinitely Cosmas and Damian, St. Demetrius of Thessalonica, St. vmch. Theodore Tyrone, St. mch. Tryphon and many others.
Chapels and cells
In addition to two cathedrals, there are 11 chapels on the territory of the monastery (of which four are frescoed): St. Euphemia, St. Unmercenaries, the Assumption of the Virgin, St. John the Theologian, St. Lazarus and St. Demetrius in the old cathedral, as well as St. the Holy Apostles, Saint Nectarios and the Holy Trinity in different parts of the monastery. Outside the monastery, in the skete and at the cells, there are 8 more churches.
The monastery owns the cell of St. Andrew in Carey, which is his representative office.
The possessions of the monastery on the Holy Mountain stretch for 12 km along the sea coast and for 8 km from the sea to the mountain heights.
Museum and Library
A magnificent museum of church and library rarities has been created in the monastery. Adjacent to the museum is a library containing over 600 manuscripts and 7,000 printed books.
The monastery refectory with frescoes of 1575 and later additions adjoins the outer annex in front of the entrance to the old cathedral.
Since 1908, next to the new Cathedral Church, there has been a phial of water blessing. In the courtyard of the monastery there is a belfry (1814) and the towers of Sts. Apostles and St. Stephen.
Monastery Xenophon(Greek "Ιερά Μονή Ξενοφώντος"), the 16th in the diptych of the Athos monasteries, is dedicated to George the Victorious. It is located on the western side of Mount Athos.
Xenophon was based in the tenth century, by the Greek nobleman Xenophon. From whose name it received its name. This saint is mentioned in the life of the founder of the Lavra, Athanasius of Athos: he healed brother Athanasius Theodore in Milopotam.
The Xenophon Monastery is the first of the monasteries, which, after the establishment of an idiorhythmic way of life throughout Athos, returned to a cenobitic image. In accordance with the charter of Patriarch Gabriel IV (1784). An important role in this change was played by the hieromonk of Kavsokali and the first abbot of the monastery, Paisios from Mitylene, who also reconstructed and expanded the monastery.
Main cathedral church monastery Great Martyr George the Victorious was built in 1809-1819 at the expense of the former Metropolitan of Samakovia Philotheus in the northern part of the monastery territory. This is a majestic and very spacious cathedral (one of the largest Greek cathedrals on Mount Athos) with a marble iconostasis that stands out for its layout and variety of materials used. The iconostasis contains two large and very valuable mosaic icons of Saints George and Demetrius. In addition, in the right kliros there is a row of icons of Prayer and the Twelve Apostles, which date back to the end of the 16th century.
In addition to the current cathedral, the former one has also been preserved, which is located a few meters from the entrance to the monastery. It is famous for the frescoes of the Cretan painter Anthony (1544). On the right side of the altar is a small chapel of St. Demetrius, which is considered the earliest building of the monastery. The carved wooden iconostasis of the temple dates back to the 17th century and is distinguished by the richness and elegance of its decoration of plant motifs and the arched frames of the icons.
The Xenophon Monastery belongs to the Annunciation Skete, which is located at a distance of about 1 hour walk to the east. Also belong to the two cells of St. Tryphon and St. Nektarios, located in their geographical area, and the cell of St. Andrew's office in Karies.
In Xenophon there is a miraculous icon of the Virgin revered by all believers Hodegetria (guidebook- Greek. "Οδηγήτρια"). The icon is located in the Cathedral Church, in a case to the left of the iconostasis. Initially, this icon was in the Vatopedi Monastery, and in 1730 the icon itself was miraculously transferred to the cathedral of the Xenophon Monastery. The monks of the Vatopedi Monastery came for the icon to return it. However, the next day the icon returned to the Xenophon Monastery again. After this miracle, the monks of the Vatopedi Monastery left the icon in the Xenophon Monastery.
shrines: Pilgrims can bow to the Hand of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, the relics of the Prophet and Baptist of the Lord John, Sts. app. Andrew, Barnabas and Philip, first part. archdeacon. Stefan, wmch. George the Victorious and Demetrius of Thessalonica, martyr. Panteleimon, St. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, St. Gregory Palamas, John the Merciful and Photius, Patr. Constantinople, schmch. Haralampia, ssmchch. Euphemia, Akaki and Ignatius Bogonostsev, martyrs. Theodore Tyron and Tryphon, vmts. Marina, mts. Agathia and Paraskeva, Sts. Modest and James the Persian.
Patronal feast monastery: April 23 / May 6, on the day of St. George the Victorious (transferred to Tuesday of Bright Week if the holiday falls on Great Lent Week).
Other holidays: First Sunday of October - Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria
16/11 (3/11) Transfer of the relics of Great Martyr George,
7/4 (25/3) Annunciation,
Tuesday of Bright Week - litany (procession) with a miraculous icon.
Pilgrimage to Athos - Xenophon Monastery
To visit the monastery of Xenophon of the Holy Mountain, the pilgrim needs to obtain permission, a visa to enter Mount Athos - the so-called diamonitirion, which must be pre-ordered in advance using our service.
"GENIKO" diamonitirion (general permission) - gives the right to stay on overnight in any monastery Holy Mountain (subject to availability). We can help organize accommodation in the monastery And book accommodations.
After receiving the diamonitirion, which is issued in the office (Graphio Proskiniton, Greek "ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟ ΠΡΟΣΚΥΝΗΤΩΝ"), located in the city of Ouranoupolis, the pilgrim goes to the transportation office, where he buys a ticket for the ferry. The departure of the ferry from Ouranople to the monasteries of the western part of Athos to Daphne is carried out daily at 9:45.
Pilgrims can get to the Monastery of Xenophon a) by ferry from Ouranoupolis, or from Daphne, or from the metro station Dohiar, or from the metro station St. Panteleimon b) on foot from the metro station Dohiar 30 min. walk, or from metro St. Panteleimon 1 hour walk.
- Postal address, index - 63087 Daphne Holy Mount Athos
- Monastery phone number - (+30) 2377023249
- Fax - (+30) 2377023631
- Call center - (+30) 2377023632
- Representation of the monastery in Karyes (Capital of Athos) - (+30) 2377023933
- Representation of the monastery in Thessaloniki -
- Fax -
- Patronal Feast - Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George
- Date of foundation - 988
- Hierarchical place - 16/20
- The monasteries that are under the control of the Parliament of Athos are the Great Lavra, Dohiar, Xenofond, Esfigmen.
- The cenobitic structure of the monastery from - 1784, Blessing of Patriarch Gabriel Δ′
- Hegumen - Sacred Archimandrite Alexei (1976)
- Number of monks - 35 monastic, 12 kelliots
- Cells and Kathismas (hermitage settlements) belonging to the monastery - Skete of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 3 Cells, 4 Kathisma
History and modernity
Byzantine period
According to legend, it was founded in the 8th century, but the real history speaks of a later dating. In the decree of 1010 there is a phrase: "signed by the hand of Xenophon of the monastery of St. George." Obviously, this was the founder of the monastery, built a little earlier, perhaps at the end of the 10th century. Saint Xenophon also signed the decree of Prot John in 991. His brother Theodore was cured in his time of a tumor by Athanasius, which is mentioned in the life of the latter.
In the period from 1030 to 1035, the monastery is mentioned in many decrees of the Holy Mountain, signed by its representatives Anthony and Theodoulos, the ktitor's cousin. Later, Gerasim becomes abbot, later awarded the high rank of prot. During the reign of Basil II, the monastery took possession of vast territories outside Athos.
The greatest contribution to the development of the monastery was made by Admiral Stefan, who came to the monastery with three of his relatives and took the name Simeon (1078-1081). As he himself wrote, thanks to his efforts, a tower was built, several other buildings were erected, and icons and books were donated. All these good deeds were made on his personal donations and donations of the emperor. The number of monks increased to 55. The economy of the monastery consisted of 150 head of cattle and 2000 sheep.
However, such intensive animal husbandry obviously violated the laws of the Holy Mountain, and very soon the Athonites, who sharply expressed their displeasure, expelled the four newcomers. Emperor Alexy I Komnenos ordered the admiral and his relatives to be allowed to return to the Holy Mountain, since he was so anxious about her well-being, but, nevertheless, confirmed the ban on animal breeding.
Latin pirates in the 12th century, as well as the Catalans in 1307, caused significant damage to Xenophon, but by 1394 the monastery was not only restored, but also strengthened its position, becoming the eighth in the Athos hierarchy of monasteries.
Turkish rule
In the 16th century, monks from Simonopetra came to the almost deserted monastery, forced to leave their monastery, destroyed by fire. At the beginning of the 17th century, Xenophon received significant assistance from the rulers of Wallachia, who paid him an annual subsidy of 9,000 akçe, but in the next century the monastery was practically empty and consisted of only 4 monks, and its debts were incommensurable with its economic situation. With the transition to the kinovial way of life in 1784, some improvements are planned, but the main contribution to the restoration of the monastery was made by Paisiy Kavsokalivit, who became its abbot and Metropolitan Philotheos of Samokov, who settled in Xenophon and rebuilt it after the fire of 1817. The census of 1808 refers to Xenophon 80 monks, of which 53 lived within its walls.
Our days
The Xenophon Monastery is located an hour's walk northwest from the Monastery of St. Panteleimon. Like other monasteries of Athos, it is best to view it from the sea. Despite the date indicated on the commemorative plaque in the monastery tower, 1668, it is obvious that the monastery itself was built much earlier.
Entering the territory of the monastery, the satellite enters the courtyard, where the main temple dedicated to St. George is located on the left, which is one of the smallest on the Holy Mountain. The temple itself was painted with frescoes of the Cretan school in 1545, and the narthex in 1563; the exonarthex, attached to the west side, was decorated with frescoes in 1637. The chapel of St. Demetrius is the most ancient building of the monastery; the chapel of St. Lazarus is also located here. Particular attention should be paid to the iconostasis of this church, a characteristic style of the 17th century.
The fortress wall that once surrounded the monastery was previously quadrangular and closed a few meters north of the first main temple. Later, due to the need to expand the territory, this section of the wall was demolished. Thus, a more spacious courtyard was formed, most of the wall of which was left without buildings. It was in this courtyard that the new main temple was built, founded by Philotheus in 1817 and completed in 1837. This is the most majestic and most spacious temple on Mount Athos, which can compete only with the temple of the monastery of St. Andrew and the monastery of the Prophet Elijah. Despite the fact that the temple was not decorated with frescoes, there is a magnificent marble iconostasis and priceless portable icons. In addition to the famous icons of the Mother of God and the mosaic icon of St. George and St. Dmitry, icons of the 12 Apostles dating back to the 16th century are also kept here.
The monastery includes 14 chapels. The bell tower is located in a huge rectangular tower. The font building is a relatively new structure, despite the fact that the font itself dates from a much earlier era. The refectory of the monastery is a continuation of the exonarthex of the old main temple. It is decorated with frescoes from 1637, which have been hidden by new images. A new refectory was built in a new section of the fortress wall.
Only one cell of Karyes, St. Andrew, belongs to the monastery, where the representative office of the monastery is located. The Skete of the Annunciation is located east of the monastery at a distance of an hour's walk from it. You can get here through the monastery of St. Panteleimon, as this is the shortest path. The temple of the skete was built in 1766.
Monastery guide
The main entrance to the monastery was originally included in the architectural plan of the monastery. It is a monumental building with a fresco of St. George and a passage leading to the old courtyard. In the center of the courtyard is a spring decorated with a bell tower. Behind the spring is a well. Opposite is the southeast wing, a 3-storey building, the so-called Chord of the Fathers. The recently restored building was built in the 11th century. In its northern part is the old main temple of the monastery.
A covered passage leads past the old main temple to the new courtyard of the monastery. The frescoes of the aisle, on the side north of the old courtyard, depict the life of St. Gerasimos and his pet lion. The Root of Jesse is depicted in the depth on the right. On the walls opposite the entrance, scenes of the Apocalypse are depicted.
The new courtyard, like the old one, is located on several levels and is lined with stone. The shape of the courtyard resembles a versatile polygon. In the center of a rather spacious original square rises the new main temple of the monastery. There is a font next to it, its monumental decoration was built in 1908 and is one of the newest on the entire Holy Mountain. Of particular interest is the dome decorated with images.
The watchtowers of the monastery, unfortunately, have not survived to this day. Only a quadrangular 5-story tower of the bell tower has survived, opposite the new main church, in the northwest, on the upper floor of which there is a bell tower, built in 1864. The remaining towers were destroyed before 1744, and their loss was not associated with the expansion of the territory of the monastery.
Both main temples of the monastery are dedicated to St. George. The old main temple is the smallest in the entire Mount Athos. The exonarthex is attached to the east side of the refectory. The magnificent frescoes of 1637 were created with the financial support of the governor of Ugrovlachia, John Matthew and his wife Elena, which are depicted next to the entrance. Saint George is also depicted on the entrance gate, and scenes from the Apocalypse are depicted on the opposite wall. Interestingly, many characterize these scenes as prophetic, recognizing contemporary events in these images, such as traces of a nuclear explosion in the form of a mushroom.
The frescoes of the narthex, created in 1564, are the work of the icon painter Theophan, the namesake of the icon painter of the monastery. To the right of the narthex is the built-in chapel of Saint Lazarus. The dome of the narthex is decorated with the image of Christ the Almighty, facing, which is a unique case, to the northwest, and not to the east.
On the gates of the western wall there is a commemorative inscription informing that the temple was painted at the expense of the ruler Konstantin Vornik and his brother Radul. The frescoes of 1544 belong to and are the work of the artist Anthony, who also created an icon of the Virgin with the inscription: "Deesis of your servant Anthony."
The carved wooden iconostasis is a magnificent example of 17th century art, richly decorated with floral patterns. The chapel of St. Dmitry is built into the southern nave - this is the oldest building in the monastery, dating back to the 13th century. Fragments of frescoes dating back to the 13th-14th centuries have also been preserved here. The iconostasis of the 11th century has preserved parts of the original Byzantine iconostasis.
The new main temple was founded under Philotheus, in 1817, the construction was completed 20 years later under Abbot Nikifor. This is the largest main temple of the Greek monastery on Mount Athos, accommodating up to 2000 people. In the exonarthex, the usual frescoes were replaced by glass. The main temple and the narthex were painted relatively recently by Father Luke and other brothers of the monastery. The founders Alexei and Nikifor, Metropolitan Philotheus and Abbot Paisios are depicted here.
The gates of the temple are a real work of art, decorated with mother-of-pearl; It is also worth paying attention to the sculptural marble decoration of the entrance.
The iconostasis of 1840 was built of gray marble. On the eastern columns there is an icon of St. George - on the right and the Mother of God Hodegetria. The icon of St. George is the same miraculous icon that miraculously arrived at the shore of the monastery by sea. The reverse side of the image, apparently, suffered in the fire, at the hands of the iconoclasts. According to legend, it was then that a faithful Christian saved the icon by throwing it into the sea. On the face of the saint, under the chin, there is a wound inflicted by the iconoclast's knife, according to legend, blood flowed from this wound.
The icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria was in the monastery and was miraculously transferred to the Xenophon monastery, despite the fact that the monks tried to return the icon to her monastery, she again returned to Xenophon (1730).
With its special harmony of architectural proportions, the conch of the two-story chapel is impressive, where the Church of the Entry into the Church of the Virgin is located, on the second floor, as well as the Church of St. John the Theologian on the first floor. Both churches are frescoed. On the territory of the monastery there are other chapels, including: St. Euphemia, St. Unmercenaries, Assumption of the Virgin, St. Stephen, St. Apostles, St. Nektarios and the Holy Trinity.
The cemetery church of the Holy Trinity, built in 1817, is located on the southwestern side of the monastery. According to its architectural type, the temple belongs to the cross-domed temples. The interior of the temple is quite modest, with only a few details of baroque decoration. The temple was painted relatively recently.
The refectory of the monastery is located on the second floor of the southwestern wing. The shape of the refectory resembles an almost perfect rectangle. On the western side, from the sea side, there is a conch, decorated with frescoes from 1475, which are the earliest frescoes of the refectory on Mount Athos.
In the new sacristy of the monastery are stored: a part of an honest cross, robes embroidered with gold, dishes, an icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord of the XIII century. It is worth paying attention to the icon of John the Baptist, dating from the seventeenth century, decorated with images of scenes of the Annunciation of the 16th century, as well as to the parchment of the Slavic Gospel, a gift from the governor John Alexander in 1574.
The special pride of the monastery is the mosaic icons of St. Dmitry - on the right and St. George. The dimensions of the icons are impressive (1.20 x 0.55 m.). The image dates back to the X-XI century and is the work of one artist. The saints are depicted in full growth, but not in military attire, but in the attire of a court commander, which is an iconographic feature of the era.
The library of the monastery is considered very rich, as it contains 10,000 printed books, 400 handwritten codices, among which 3 are written on parchment, as well as three scrolls. An important relic of the monastery is considered to be a handwritten Gospel, donated by Emperor Alexei I Komnenos in 1083 to hegumen Simeon.
Particles of Relics
Particle of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, Holy Apostles Andrew the First-Called, Barnabas and Philip, Holy Hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, John the Merciful, Modest, Tryphon, James the Persian, Ignatius the God-bearer, Saint Ignatius Agalianu Bishop Mythimnis, Saint Charlampios, Photios Patriarch of Constantinople, Great Martyrs George, Demetrius, Mercury, Saints Mina of Egypt, Marina and Paraskeva (Friday), New Martyrs of Greece (saints who were martyred after the fall of Constantinople in 1453) Demetrius of Peloponne and Theodore of Byzantium, Hieromartyrs of Iberia (Iviron Athos Monastery) Euphemia, Ignatius and Akaki.
Xenophon stands at the foot of a hill on the shore between Dohiar and the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery.
According to legend, on the site of the monastery in 520, Saint Xenophon erected a temple dedicated to Saint Dmitry.
Another saint who lived in the 10th century is connected with the history of the founding of the monastery - the Monk Xenophon, about whom it is said in the life of the founder of the Lavra, Athanasius of Athos, that he healed brother Athanasius Theodore in Milopotam.
The monastery is first mentioned in the texts during the reign of Emperor Nikephoros III Votaniates. The monastery as a whole flourished until the capture of Constantinople by the Turks and the final enslavement of Byzantium by them.
The subsequent history of the monastery is not particularly different from the history of other Athos monasteries. There were also destructions as a result of pirate raids and subsequent restoration, supported mainly by the Byzantine emperors, and from the 16th century by the rulers of the Danubian principalities and others.
Xenophon - the first of the monasteries, after the establishment of an idiorhythmic way of life throughout Athos, returned to a cenobitic life in accordance with the letter of Patriarch Gabriel IV (1784).
At the beginning of the 19th century (1817), a significant part of the monastery burned down as a result of a fire, as well as many ancient documents. However, it was soon restored and even expanded with the help of the former Metropolitan of Samakovo Philotheus, who left his episcopate and spent the rest of his life as a monk in the Xenophon Monastery. 
The new cathedral was built in 1819. This is the largest of the Greek cathedrals on Mount Athos. Here are two large and very valuable mosaic icons of Saints George and Demetrius.
In addition to two cathedrals, the monastery also has 19 chapels. There are 11 chapels on the territory of the monastery, the rest are outside. The monastery owns the cell of St. Andrew in Karei and the skete of the Most Holy Theotokos, founded in 1760 by hieromonk Sylvester and monks Euphraim and Agapius.
The monastery has two miraculous icons - the Mother of God and St. George. Here are the relics of the Holy Great Martyr George, the Apostles Barnabas and Philip, St. Stephen, the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Tiron, St. Arcadius (son of the founder), St. John Chrysostom, St. Marina and St. Modest.
About 60 monks live in the monastery and in the territories belonging to it today.