The Holy monastery of Megiste Lavra, occupies firts place in the history and hierarchy of the monasteries of Athos, and is founder was St. Athanasius the Athonite. It was he who introduced the coenobitic system, which was afterwards to become the monastic way of life.

Nicephorus Phocas and later Ioannes Tsimiskes and Basil II supported him in the foundation of the first Monastery in 10th century. Megiste Lavra suffered from pirate raids in 14th century and from an earthquake in 1585. The burden of heavy taxation during the years of turkish rule contributed to its gradual decline.

The wall-paintings of the katholikon are by Theophanis of Crete. The Monastery has 17 chapels, a library with 2116 manuscripts, 20000 printed books and valuable historical treasures.