Home page News
Patriarch Kirill celebrates thanksgiving at Xilour…

Patriarch Kirill celebrates thanksgiving at Xilourgou hermitage on Mount Athos

On May 28, 2016, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, accompanied by a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, visited the Xilourgou hermitage dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, historically the first Russian monastery to be found on Mount Athos. Restoration work has been carried out in it in anticipation of the millennium of the Russian presence on Athos.

His Holiness was welcomed by Hieromonk Makary, spiritual father of the St. Panteleimon Monastery, Hieromonk Simeon, head of the hermitage, and the brethren of the hermitage.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church visited the hermitage’s old church of the Dormition and the church of St. John of Rila.

His Holiness consecrated the Ss Cyril and Methodius church at the cells, which were built in 1885, and then led a thanksgiving at the newly consecrated church.

After the service, Patriarch Kirill addressed the congregation. He presented the hermitage with Eucharistic vessels.

Then His Holiness, accompanied by Father Simenon, inspected the hermitage’s facilities.

 ***

 The Xilourgou (‘carpenter’ Gr.) hermitage dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, is the first monastery to be founded on Athos. It is located on the eastern side of Mount Athos, an hour’s drive from Karyes. It is part of the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery.

The hermitage was founded in the mid-10th century. From the early 12th century, it was referred to as a ‘Russian’ cloister. It was in Xilourgou that Russian pilgrims to Athos used to be accommodated.

The move of Russian monks from Xilourgou to the St. Panteleimon Monastery took place in 1169, under Abbot Lavrenty, by the decision of the general meeting of the Athonite abbots, who transferred the St. Panteleimon Monastery to the ownership of Russian monks. Since that time, Xilourgou has been attached to the St. Panteleimon Monastery.

In the 19th century, in addition of the church of the Dormition, two more churches were built at the hermitage, one dedicated to St. John of Rila and the other to Ss Cyril and Methodius.

The hermitage’s main shrine is the Icon of Our Lady of the Sweet Kiss, which was presented to it in 1802.

In the recent years, the hermitage has been under restoration. The church of St. John of Rila, which was in a catastrophic condition, has been restored; the cells have reconstructed, and the access road has been repaired.

Patriarchal Press Service

DECR Communication Service

Share:
Phone conversation took place between the Primates of Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches

17.11.2024

Telephone conversation held between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Primate of the Malankara Church of India

01.11.2024

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the VIII World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad

30.10.2024

Order of Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow presented to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk by Patriarch Kirill

24.10.2024

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Divine Liturgy in the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra on the commemoration day of St. Sergius of Radonezh

09.10.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers and Akathistos hymn to St. Sergius in the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

07.10.2024

Message from the Primate of the Russian Church to His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia in connection with blasphemous act on the ruins of ancient Ulpiana

14.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates on the feast of the 300th anniversary of the transfer of relics of St.Alexander Nevsky to St. Petersburg

12.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-night Vigil at the Christ the Savior Cathedral on the eve of Transfiguration

18.08.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' met with the Ambassador of India to Russia

30.07.2024

Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III: Ukrainian government’s support for schism and persecution of the major canonical Church is a religious pogrom against the faithful Orthodox Christians of that country

24.07.2024

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church consecrates the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in the city of Tver.

21.07.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Liturgy at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius on the commemoration day of the saint

18.07.2024

The Primate of the Russian Church celebrates All-night Vigil at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

17.07.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius and reads akathist to the saint

17.07.2024

Phone conversation took place between the Primates of Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches

17.11.2024

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije

17.11.2024

Conference dedicated to centennial of the Holy Trinity Russian church is held in Belgrade

16.11.2024

Delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church takes part in COP29 Summit of Religious Leaders

06.11.2024

DECR chairman concludes his visit to India

03.11.2024

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with young Indian Christians

02.11.2024

Primate of Malankara Church of India receives Order of Glory and Honour, 1st Class

02.11.2024

DECR chairman takes part in church celebrations in India

02.11.2024

Telephone conversation held between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Primate of the Malankara Church of India

01.11.2024

DECR Chairman has begun his visit to India

31.10.2024

Work of the Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is declared successful

24.10.2024

Synod acknowledges importance of bilateral projects carried out in collaboration with Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

24.10.2024

Order of Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow presented to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk by Patriarch Kirill

24.10.2024

DECR Chairman heads celebrations for the fifteenth anniversary of the consecration of the Dormition Church at the Russian embassy in Beijing.

19.10.2024

Saint Petersburg Theological Academy hosts conference on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) entitled ‘The Person of Metropolitan Nikodim in the History of the Church’.

16.10.2024

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب