Monastery of Agios Pavlos

The Monastery of Agios Pavlos is located at the southernmost tip of the western side of Mount Athos Peninsula. It was founded in the late 9th or early 10th century by Pavlos of Xeropotamos or Xeropotamites and was initially named "Xeropotamou Monastery" before receiving its current name in 1108. Situated near the sea, it is built at an elevation of 140 meters, and its main church is dedicated to the Presentation of Jesus Christ.

The monastery buildings were constructed in different time periods due to the damages it suffered from raids, like all the monasteries of Mount Athos. It was completely destroyed in the 14th century, but it began to flourish again from the 15th century onwards, thanks to funding from Serbian rulers and Danubian countries.

Among the treasures preserved in the monastery, there is a part of the Holy Gifts of the Magi to Christ, donated by Queen Mara, the wife of Sultan Murad II and the mother of Mehmed II the Conqueror. Additionally, two pieces of the True Cross are kept, along with a double-sided enamel panel depicting the image of Pantocrator, which originates from the Maas school and was created in 1200. An exceptionally valuable item is a pastoral cross adorned with pearls and forty miniatures.The monastery's rich library includes 495 priceless manuscripts and over 18,000 books.