Megali Hagia Lávra monastery

The Megali Hagia Lávra monastery (Greek: Μεγάλη Aγίας Λαύρας) is the first monastery built on Ierá Parádeisos or Holy Paradise, a site of some of the most Prestigious and influential monasteries in all of Diadochia. The Megali Hagia Lávra is the Premier monastery of Diadochia. The monastery was founded in the 10th century.

Founding

The monastery was founded by Andrew of Ierá Parádeisos in 958 A.D. Andrew was assisted by his friend, the Diadochian Emperor Cassander IX of Diadochia who funded the project from his private purse. Future Emperors of the eleventh century, such as Alexander XII and Alexios I gave large Imperial land grants. During the first fifty years of the monastery's existence the number of monks grew from 160 to about 200 monks by the time of Alexios I's succession to the Imperial throne.

Later History

The emperors favored its development and by the end of tthe 11th century there were around 1,400 monks. Several smaller monasteries were joined with the Megali Hagia Lavra over the next few centuries including the nearby Gomátou, Monoxylítou, Amalfitans, Kalykas, Xerokastron, monasteries, greatly increasing the monasterys prestige. 500px

Treasures and relics

The library of the monastery contains 5,216 greek manuscripts and 382 codices in foreign languages. The monastery contains two valuable icons the Oikonomissa and the Koukouzalissa.