Search for

Advanced search
 
Home 28 March 2024
Culture Religion Monuments Christian Orthodox Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Prefecture of Xanthi Municipality of Xanthi

Under Construction

Audio-Video files
No audio or video files.

Useful links
No links.

Other files
No other files.
Item Coordinates
Νο coordinates       
Topics
Armenian
Roman Catholic
Hebraics
Muslim
Christian Orthodox
LOCATION
Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
Municipality of Avdera
Municipality of Alexandroupolis
Municipality of Vistonida
Municipality of Didimotihos
Municipality of Doxato
Municipality of Drama
Municipality of Thasos
Municipality of Kato Nevrokopi
Municipality of Komotini
Municipality of Maronia
Municipality of Xanthi
Municipality of Prosotsani
Municipality of Samothraki
Municipality of Sapes
Municipality of Soufli
Municipality of Stavroupolis
Municipality of Sosto
Municipality of Pheres
Municipality of Philippoi
Prefecture of Drama
Prefecture of Evros
Prefecture of Rodopi
Under Construction: Subtopics All topics
There are no more subtopics under the current topic

05.02.2006
Monastery of Panaghia Archaggeliotissa, Xanthi

Georgios Tsigaras
Source: C.E.T.I.
© Region of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace
print preview

Location: The Monastery is located in the northwest of Xanthi, at an altitude of 160 m.
History: According to tradition, the monastery of Archaggeliotissa was named after the small-dimensioned icon of Theotokos that is flanked by the Archangels and is currently kept at the monastery. There is no sufficient written reference concerning the foundation of the monastery. However, according to tradition, it dates back to the Byzantine period and it is associated with the intellectual splendour of the monk community of the neighbouring Mount Papikion. The oldest reference, according to currently known data, dates the monastery to the 12th – 13th centuries. The crypt, situated in the eastern part and below the sanctuary, dates probably to the 11th century, a fact supporting the traditional belief. It is also known that a workshop for manuscript reproduction operated from the 16th century onwards. From the 19th century until the early decades of the 20th century, during the period when the economy of Xanthi flourished, due to the cultivation and trade of tobacco, the monastery acquired significant property. The earthquakes of the year 1829 caused severe damages to the monastery complex. Metropolitan Eugenios of Xanthi helped at that time in restoring the building and the necessary cost was covered by the inhabitants and the rich tobacco merchants of Xanthi. In 1913 the Bulgarians, after occupying the area, removed the monastery’s relics and transferred them to Sofia. Currently, it is a monk monastery housing the Ecclesiastical Museum of the Metropolis of Xanthi in its east wing.
The Katholikon: The Katholikon is dedicated to the Dormition of Theotokos and celebrates on August 15th. It is a domed church erected in 1841, probably over the foundations of an earlier church of the Middle Byzantine period that seems to have imitated. Wall paintings survive in the interior of the church (second half of the 19th century). There are some interesting despotic icons on the modern iconostasis depicting Christ as the High Priest (16th century) and Theotokos Hodegetria. According to a wall inscription, the bell tower was erected in 1844.

Βιβλιογραφία: ΧΡΥΣΟΣΤΟΜΟΣ ΧΑΤΖΗΣΤΑΥΡΟΥ, Κατάλογοι δύο των χειρογράφων των εν Ξάνθη της Θράκης ιερών ενοριακών Μονών Παναγίας Αρχαγγελιωτίσσης και Παναγίας Καλαμούς, Βyzantinische Ζeitschrift 12 (1912)· Σ. ΖΑΛΙΜΙΔΗΣ, Ξάνθη, Ξάνθη 1959· Α. ΓΕΡΟΜΙΧΑΛΟΣ, Ιωακείμ Σγουρός, Μητροπολίτης Ξάνθης και αι αποφάσεις της Δημογεροντίας, Θεσσαλονίκη 1968· Α. ΓΕΡΟΜΙΧΑΛΟΣ, Αι επί Τουρκοκρατίας Δημογεροντίαι. Η Δημογεροντία Ξάνθης, Θεσσαλονίκη 1973· Π. Α. ΓΕΩΡΓΑΝΤΖΗΣ, Συμβολή εις την ιστορίαν της Ξάνθης, Ξάνθη 1976· Σ. ΚΟΚΚΙΝΗΣ, Τα μοναστήρια της Ελλάδος, Οδηγός-Ιστορία-Θησαυροί-Βιβλιογραφία, Αθήνα 1976· Φ. ΤΡΙΑΡΧΗΣ, Η Ξάνθη διά μέσου των αιώνων, Αρχείον Θράκης 39 (1976)· Π. Α. ΓΕΩΡΓΑΝΤΖΗΣ, Τα ιερά Προσκυνήματα της Ξάνθης, Ξάνθη 1980· Αρχιμ. ΠΑΝΤΕΛΕΗΜΩΝ ΜΟΥΤΑΦΗΣ, Μονή Παμμεγίστων Ταξιαρχών Ξάνθης, στο: Θρησκευτικά Μνημεία στο Νομό Ξάνθης, επιμέλεια: Γεώργιος Χρ. Τσιγάρας, Ξάνθη 2005.