"XENOFONDOS" MONASTERY - West coast of Mount Athos The Holy
Monastery of Xenophontos stands on the western shore of the
peninsula, between the Monasteries of Docheiariou and St
Panteleimon. It has a long history which goes back to the 10th
and the 11th century, to the time when the Megiste Lavra was
founded. Its founder was St Xenophon, who was also its Abbot.
The Monastery has had its share of vicissitudes, starting from
the time when it was set up. One such difficulty was the quarrel
which arose in the late 11th century with the eunuch Stephen -
subsequently a monk with the name of Symeon - drungarius of the
Emperor Nicephorus Botaneates. Initially the fact that Stephen
had become a monk was beneficial to the Monastery: the provision
of funds made possible the construction of buildings. However,
his subsequent career as Abbot brought him into conflict with
most of the monks, resulting in his removal. Symeon's appeal to
the Emperor Alexius Comnenus ended in an imperial order that he
should be restored to off