Docheiariou Monastery: Archangels and the Quick to Hear Icon
Holy Places of Orthodoxy · Mount Athos
On the west coast of the Holy Mountain, Docheiariou Monastery rises almost straight from the sea, its great church dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. It also guards one of the best-loved icons of Mount Athos, the Panagia Gorgoepikoos, the Mother of God who is “Quick to Hear”.
In short Founded in the 10th century, Docheiariou keeps the feast of the Archangels on 8 November. Here are its story, its famous icon and how to visit with reverence.
At a glance
- Location
- West coast of the Athos peninsula, Chalkidiki, northern Greece (Ιερά Μονή Δοχειαρίου)
- Founded
- 10th century by St Euthymios, companion of St Athanasios of Athos
- Dedication
- The Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, the Taxiarches
- Feast day
- Synaxis of the Archangels, 8 November
- Rank
- Tenth of the twenty ruling monasteries; a Greek, cenobitic brotherhood
- Jurisdiction
- Self-governed Mount Athos, under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
- Treasures
- The Panagia Gorgoepikoos; Cretan-school frescoes of 1568; Mount Athos is UNESCO-listed (1988)
Where is Docheiariou Monastery, and how did it begin?
Docheiariou stands just above the sea on the west coast of Athos, the easternmost “finger” of Chalkidiki. Pilgrim boats from Ouranoupoli pass below it on their way to Dafni.
Its founder, St Euthymios, a friend and disciple of St Athanasios of Athos, was the docheiaris, or steward, of the Great Lavra, and the monastery takes its name from that office. He first founded a monastery of St Nicholas at Dafni. After raiders destroyed it, the brotherhood rebuilt and later moved to its present site, and his nephew St Neophytos built a great church.
The miracle of the Archangels
According to the monastery’s tradition, in the days of St Neophytos a young worker named Basil found buried gold on a monastery estate in Sithonia and faithfully reported it. On the boat home, three greedy monks tied a marble slab to his neck and threw him into the sea.
Basil called on the Archangels, and the tradition says Michael and Gabriel carried him into the church, where he was found at dawn, still bound to the stone. The gold was returned, Basil became a monk, and the church was dedicated to the Holy Archangels.
What does Gorgoepikoos mean, and why is the icon “Quick to Hear”?
Beside the refectory door, an icon of the Mother of God holding Christ is painted on the wall. In 1664, tradition says, the monk Neilos, in charge of the refectory, used to pass it with a smoking torch. A voice warned him not to blacken the icon; he ignored it, and at the second rebuke he lost his sight.
Neilos prayed before the icon for forgiveness until his sight was restored. The Theotokos told him the monks should run to her in every need, for she would hear them quickly: she is Gorgoepikoos, “Quick to Hear”.
“In the day when I call upon You, hear me speedily.”
Spiritual life and treasures today
Like the rest of Athos, Docheiariou keeps Byzantine time, and services begin long before dawn. Elder Gregorios led the brotherhood for decades, until his repose in 2018; Archimandrite Amphilochios is now abbot.
The katholikon, the main church, was built and painted in 1568, and its frescoes belong to the Cretan school. It is dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel.
The wonderworking icon of Docheiariou
The sources we checked name one wonderworking icon venerated at Docheiariou today: the Panagia Gorgoepikoos.
Panagia Gorgoepikoos, “Quick to Hear”
Where: a wall painting beside the refectory door, with a chapel built next to it · Feast: 1 October · Dated: by tradition to the time of St Neophytos; named in 1664
Tradition says the Theotokos gave the icon its name after healing the blind monk Neilos. A lamp has burned before it ever since, and the monks cense it every day. Copies are honoured across the Orthodox world; in Russian it is called Скоропослушница, “Quick to Hear”.
How do you read the icon of the Archangel Michael?
Docheiariou belongs to the Archangels, so here is its patron, the Archangel Michael, as painted in our workshop. This is what you can see.
- Ο ΑΡΧ ΜΙΧΑΗΛ In the upper corners, “the Archangel Michael”, abbreviated in Greek.
- The sword Held upright in his right hand: he is the Taxiarch, commander of the heavenly hosts, who defends the faithful.
- The orb A clear sphere in his left hand, marked with Christ’s initial Χ: he serves Christ, King and Judge of all.
- Armour and cloak Scaled armour of gold and brown under a red cloak, the dress of a Byzantine general.
- The wings Tall wings of brown and gold, edged with blue: a bodiless messenger, moving swiftly between heaven and earth.
- Gold and ground Gold leaf, the light of God’s Kingdom, above the dark earth beneath his feet, framed by a red border.
When is the feast of Docheiariou, and how is it kept?
The Synaxis of the Archangels falls on 8 November, and Docheiariou keeps it with an all-night vigil that begins on the eve.
On 9 November the monastery remembers its founders, Saints Euthymios and Neophytos. The Gorgoepikoos has her own feast on 1 October.
Add the feast to your calendar
Docheiariou Monastery: a short timeline
- 10th century St Euthymios founds a monastery of St Nicholas near Dafni.
- 1568 The frescoes of the katholikon are completed.
- 1664 The monk Neilos is healed before the Gorgoepikoos.
- 1988 Mount Athos becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 2018 Elder Gregorios reposes; Archimandrite Amphilochios becomes abbot.
The apolytikion of the Archangels
Commanders of the armies of heaven,
we who are unworthy implore you:
by your prayers, build a wall around us
in the shelter of the wings of your immaterial glory,
and guard us who fall down before you,
crying out with all our heart:
Deliver us from dangers,
as captains of the powers on high.
8 November · The Holy Archangels
Tip: print this page and the hymn card prints on its own, clean and simple.
Read the hymn in Greek
Τῶν οὐρανίων στρατιῶν Ἀρχιστράτηγοι,
δυσωποῦμεν ὑμᾶς ἡμεῖς οἱ ἀνάξιοι,
ἵνα ταῖς ὑμῶν δεήσεσι, τειχίσητε ἡμᾶς,
σκέπῃ τῶν πτερύγων, τῆς ἀΰλου ὑμῶν δόξης,
φρουροῦντες ἡμᾶς προσπίπτοντας, ἐκτενῶς καὶ βοῶντας·
Ἐκ τῶν κινδύνων λυτρώσασθε ἡμᾶς,
ὡς Ταξιάρχαι τῶν ἄνω Δυνάμεων.
Questions people ask
What does Gorgoepikoos mean?
It is Greek for “quick to hear”. According to the tradition of Docheiariou, the Theotokos gave herself this name in 1664, promising to answer quickly those who call on her.
Where is the Gorgoepikoos icon kept?
At Docheiariou Monastery on Mount Athos. It is a wall painting beside the door of the refectory, with a small chapel built next to it, where a lamp burns before the icon day and night.
When is the feast of Docheiariou Monastery?
Its patronal feast, the Synaxis of the Archangels, is on 8 November, kept with an all-night vigil. The monastery remembers its founders on 9 November and honours the Gorgoepikoos icon on 1 October.
Can women visit Mount Athos?
No. By ancient rule and Greek law, only men may enter the Holy Mountain. Women can see Docheiariou from the sightseeing boats that sail along the west coast from Ouranoupoli, and they can pray before copies of the Gorgoepikoos in many churches.
How do I get a permit (diamonitirion) for Mount Athos?
Apply in advance to the Mount Athos Pilgrims’ Bureau in Thessaloniki or Ouranoupoli, then collect the permit in person in Ouranoupoli on the morning you sail. Arrange your overnight stay directly with the monastery by phone.
Few of us will step off the boat at Docheiariou, yet the Gorgoepikoos hears quickly wherever she is called upon. Light the lamp before your icons tonight and pray with the monks: “Most holy Theotokos, save us.”
