Xeropotamou Monastery, Orthodox monastery at Mount Athos, Greece

Xeropotamou Monastery stands on the western slope of Mount Athos above the Daphni landing, eighth in the Athonite hierarchy. Its square plan is formed by three-storey wings around a central courtyard, with the five-domed katholikon of the Forty Martyrs built in 1761 and painted in 1783. A marble phiale of the 18th century and a bell tower built into the north wing are among its features.

Tradition credits the monastery's foundation to the 5th-century princess Pulcheria, sister of Theodosius II, who built a church to the Forty Martyrs after a vision; the monk Paul founded the monastery itself in the late 10th century. Rebuilt under the Palaiologoi, it was destroyed by an earthquake under Michael VIII and rebuilt again by Andronikos II. Sultan Selim II restored it at his own expense after a dream of the Forty Martyrs, as a firman of 9 March 1520 records; a fire struck in 1609 and the catholicon was rebuilt in 1761.

The monastery's name means "dry stream", after the ravine beside it whose torrent dries up in summer heat. Its patronal feast honours the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, and the great katholikon was built in 1761 and painted in 1783 with funds raised in Wallachia by the monk Kaisarios Dapontes of Skopelos, whose manuscripts are kept in the library.

The monastery is situated on the middle section of the Athos peninsula and can be reached via established routes on the mountain. Visitors should understand that this is an active religious community where access may vary based on monastic routines and the needs of the resident monks.

The monastery's name means "dry stream", after the deep ravine beside it whose torrent dries up in summer heat but runs wide and deep in winter. Its chestnut forest belongs to the monastery, and it is considered the oldest monastery on Athos and the second place of residence after Karyes.