Principal Monasteries of Greece

• Great Lavra Monastery – Mount Athos. Founded by St Athanasius the Athonite in 963; the oldest and highest-ranking monastery of Mount Athos.
• Vatopedi Monastery – Mount Athos. One of the largest and most influential Athonite monasteries.
• Iviron Monastery – Mount Athos. Georgian foundation and guardian of the Portaitissa icon.
• Megisti Lavra of Meteora – Meteora. The principal monastery of Meteora.
• Monastery of Saint John the Theologian – Patmos. Great monastery of Patmos founded in 1088.
• Arkadi Monastery – Crete. Symbol of Cretan Orthodoxy and resistance.
• Hosios Loukas Monastery – Boeotia. One of the greatest Byzantine monasteries in Greece and a UNESCO site.

Mount Athos

• Great Lavra Monastery – the first and highest-ranking Athonite monastery.
• Vatopedi Monastery – among the wealthiest and most important monasteries of Athos.
• Iviron Monastery – historic Georgian monastery of Mount Athos.
• Hilandar Monastery – Serbian monastery of Mount Athos.
• Dionysiou Monastery – dramatic cliffside monastery overlooking the Aegean.
• Koutloumousiou Monastery – important Greek monastery near Karyes.
• Pantokrator Monastery – Athonite monastery known for its libraries and relics.
• Xiropotamou Monastery – one of the oldest monasteries on Athos.
• Zografou Monastery – Bulgarian monastery on Athos.
• Dochiariou Monastery – monastery famous for the icon of the Mother of God Gorgoepikoos.
• Simonopetra Monastery – perhaps the most visually dramatic monastery on Mount Athos.
• St Paul Monastery – Athonite monastery associated with important relics.
• Stavronikita Monastery – one of the smaller ruling monasteries of Athos.
• Xenophontos Monastery – monastery on the western coast of Athos.
• Gregoriou Monastery – monastery known for its missionary and liturgical life.
• Esphigmenou Monastery – historic Athonite monastery.
• Konstamonitou Monastery – one of the smaller Athonite monasteries.
• Philotheou Monastery – monastery associated with several modern elders.
• Karakallou Monastery – ancient monastery near the southeastern coast.
• Panteleimon Monastery – Russian monastery of Mount Athos.

Meteora and Thessaly

• Great Meteoron Monastery – Meteora. The largest and oldest monastery of Meteora.
• Varlaam Monastery – Meteora. One of the most important surviving monasteries of the Meteora group.
• Rousanou Monastery – Meteora. Active women’s monastery.
• Holy Trinity Monastery – Meteora. Dramatic cliff monastery famous for its location.
• St Stephen Monastery – Meteora. One of the principal convents of Meteora.
• St Nicholas Anapausas Monastery – Meteora. Smaller monastery noted for its frescoes.

Mainland Greece

• Hosios Loukas Monastery – Boeotia. Great Byzantine monastery and UNESCO site.
• Daphni Monastery – near Athens. Major Byzantine monastery with celebrated mosaics.
• Kaisariani Monastery – Athens region. Historic monastery on Mount Hymettus.
• Mega Spilaio Monastery – Achaea. Ancient Peloponnesian monastery built into the mountainside.
• Agia Lavra Monastery – Kalavryta. Historically associated with the Greek War of Independence.
• Monastery of Saint Patapios – Loutraki. Major pilgrimage monastery with incorrupt relics.
• Monastery of the Holy Trinity – Aegina. Associated with St Nektarios.
• Monastery of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou – Lykovrysi. Major modern convent.

Crete and the Islands

• Arkadi Monastery – Crete. The most famous monastery of Crete.
• Preveli Monastery – Crete. Historic monastery associated with resistance movements.
• Toplou Monastery – eastern Crete. Fortress-monastery of great importance.
• Monastery of Saint John the Theologian – Patmos. Principal monastery of Patmos and the Dodecanese.
• Monastery of the Apocalypse – Patmos. Built around the cave where St John received the Revelation.
• Nea Moni Monastery – Chios. Great Byzantine monastery and UNESCO site.
• Monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa – Amorgos. Dramatic cliffside monastery of the Aegean.
• Monastery of Taxiarchis – Serifos. Historic island monastery.

Female Monasteries and Convents of Special Importance

• St Stephen Monastery – Meteora. Major women’s monastery.
• Rousanou Monastery – Meteora. Women’s monastery of Meteora.
• Monastery of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou – Athens region. Important convent with a large pilgrimage following.
• Monastery of the Holy Trinity – Aegina. Convent associated with St Nektarios.
• Monastery of Panagia Malevi – Arcadia. One of the most important women’s monasteries in the Peloponnese.

Observations

• Mount Athos remains the supreme centre of Orthodox monasticism and the most influential monastic republic in the Christian East.
• Meteora is unique in the Orthodox world for its rock monasteries and their dramatic landscape.
• Greek monasticism is especially notable for its continuity from the Byzantine period to the present.
• The islands preserve many of the most ancient and visually distinctive monasteries of the Orthodox world.
• Among the best-known monasteries internationally are Great Lavra, Vatopedi, Hilandar, Great Meteoron, Patmos, Arkadi, and Hosios Loukas.