Zografou Monastery

The Zografou Monastery is located in the northern part of the Athos Peninsula, built in a valley surrounded by dense forests at an altitude of 160 meters. It is also known as the "Bulgarian" Monastery because, since 1845, only Bulgarian monks have resided there, and the liturgical services are conducted in the Bulgarian language. It was founded in the 10th century by the brothers Moses, Aaron, and Ioannis, who originated from Ohrid.

The monastery is dedicated to Saint George, and its original name was "Monastery of Saint George Zografou ." It was destroyed in the early 14th century by Catalan pirates but was rebuilt with financial assistance from Serbian kings and Byzantine emperors. It was renovated in 1502 by Stefan the Great, the ruler of Moldavia, and expanded during various periods. The Catholic building was constructed in 1800, where the handmade icon of Saint George is housed, and it was painted in 1817.

The monastery library contains over 10,000 printed books, including manuscripts in Greek, Slavic, and Bulgarian languages, as well as rare codices. It preserves relics of saints, sacred artifacts, vessels, garments, and a multitude of icons, such as the Icon of the Panagia Epakouousa and the first icon of Saint George adorned with diamonds, gold, and silver. In the courtyard, the memorial of the 26 martyr painters stands out.