Abkhazia: New Athos Monastery
In 1874, the Russian Tzar granted Greek monks from the Athos monastery high on the mountains of Greece the right to build a new grand monastery on the Black Sea coast at the site where in the 1st century AD St. Simeon the Zealot (who was spreading Christianity) was killed by the Roman legionaries. This became the New Athos Monastery and the Russian Tzar left no ruble left to make it grand – a spectacular St Simeon Cathedral inside surrounded by the square walls with towers and a bell tower. The multi-dome interior was painted with magnificent frescos by the best of the best Russian painters between 1911-1914, most of the art survives in its original form today. The religious complex is truly spectacular with panoramic views toward the Black Sea.
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