Prodromos, Romanian Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos, Greece.
Prodromos is a Romanian cenobitic skete belonging to the Great Lavra, at the southeastern tip of Mount Athos called Vigla, near the cave of Athanasios the Athonite. Its main church, dedicated to the Baptism of Jesus, is 30 m long and 8.5 m wide, with three domes and interior painting done in 1862–1863 by Romanian painters in a Renaissance-inspired style. A 23 m high belfry with a chapel of the Dormition of the Theotokos stands over the main entrance.
The monastery traces back to a group of Romanian monks who began settling on Mount Athos around 1750. It received official recognition in 1856, when the Patriarch in Constantinople granted it formal status.
The wall paintings and iconostasis follow Romanian artistic traditions rarely seen in other monasteries on the peninsula. This difference is visible as soon as you step into the main church.
Access to Mount Athos is restricted to male visitors, and a special permit must be obtained before arrival. The number of visitors allowed each day is limited, so planning ahead is strongly advised.
The skete's best-known treasure is the icon of the Theotokos called "Prodromița", held to be acheiropoieta, not made by human hands. Of the five large icons kept here, three are thought to work miracles. The church also holds relics of St. John the Baptist, St. Stephen and St. Barbara.
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