2359 – the cell of Molyvokklissia (near Maroudá)

When you follow the monopati from Karyes to the Maroudá kellion, you will pass the cell of Molyvokklissia. Nowadays the cell is abandoned.

But until 2019 this cell was inhabited by monk Chrysostomos. He passed away that year at the age of 87 (5-8-1932 / 9-3-2019). He arrived on the Holy Mountain in 1952 and in the year 1974 he came to the Molyvokklisia cell. He was in the choir of the Protaton for many years. According to Giannis’ Kelliotes blog, he taught Byzantine music, including to monk Efrem, who still lives in Maroudá’s cell.

What makes this cell special is the interior with its extraordinary quality of the old murals. The small church was built in 1536 and the paintings were made in 1541. According to Father Chrysostomos, the murals were made by the famous Theophanos the Cretan (1500-1559), who also worked in the monasteries of Lavra, Iviron, Pantocratoros, Stavronikita and Grigoriou. Whether this information is correct, I cannot confirm, but the paintings are certainly of the Cretan school.

It is said that in 2008 the situation of the murals was already very bad. Pictures from the interior made in 2008 by Giannis Kontsiotis, also see post 623.

The cell was founded by Makarios and Dimitrios, who came from Janjevo of Kosovo, as an inscription above a door of the church says in Serbian (see gallery above).

I tried to find a way to look inside, but unfortunately no one knew how to get the key, nor could Father Makarios help us. The kellion belongs to Chilandariou.

The garden and the buildings are gradually becoming overgrown.

We heard that there is plan to demolish the surrounding buildings, but keep the church from further decay. Oppostite the entrance new building activities could be seen.

Wim Voogd, 11-3-2025