Stavronikita: The Small Monastery with the Great Icon
The smallest and youngest of the twenty ruling monasteries, Stavronikita rises like a little castle on a rock above the sea — and keeps a mosaic icon of Saint Nicholas that was pulled from the waves after centuries.
Founded: 16th century · Dedicated to: Saint Nicholas
Stavronikita stands on the north-east coast between Iviron and Pantokratoros, the smallest of the twenty monasteries and the last to be founded as a ruling monastery, in the 16th century, by the Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah I.
Saint Nicholas of the Oyster
Its treasured icon is a mosaic of Saint Nicholas, known as 'Streidas' — 'of the oyster' — because, tradition says, it was recovered from the sea with an oyster shell fixed to the saint's forehead, leaving a scar still visible on the icon.
A tower on the rock
Compact and vertical, built around a tall defensive tower, Stavronikita is one of the most photographed monasteries on the mountain, especially at sunrise when the light strikes its seaward wall.
On the Holy Mountain
Though small, it keeps the full cenobitic life and a brotherhood known for its strict order.
Frequently asked questions
What is Stavronikita monastery known for?
It is the smallest of the twenty ruling monasteries of Athos and keeps the mosaic icon of Saint Nicholas 'Streidas', recovered from the sea.
When was Stavronikita founded?
As a ruling monastery in the 16th century, the last of the twenty to be founded, by Patriarch Jeremiah I.
Where is Stavronikita?
On the north-east coast of Mount Athos, between Iviron and Pantokratoros.