Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria presided at the feast day of the Iviron Cell of Saint Anna, Mount Athos

On the occasion of the feast of the Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by Saint Anna, according to the Julian Calendar, His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria presided over the feast day service at the Iviron Cell of Saint Anna in Karyes, Mount Athos

The elder of Holy Cell is Hieromonk Antipas, a great chanter and spiritual father of Mount Athos. Photographs of the feast day were provided by Artemis Barabounis.

The Holy Iviron Cell of Saint Anna was built southwest of Karyes of Mount Athos in approximately 1640 by a certain Monk Daniel.

In 1790 it was expanded, and a larger church was built, but later it appears to have been deserted for a short time.

In 1870, Monk Polycarp settled there, who, with his two sibling brothers, Hieromonks Lazarus and Andreas, enriched it with books, vestments and icons.

Later, the duties of elder of Cell were taken on by the Monk Theodosios (Mazarakis) from Patras, with Monks George and Theodosios the Hierodeacon as subordinates, who came to Mount Athos in the 1930s, then by the same Monk George (Zitos), until his repose in 1996, and from then on by the Hierodeacon Theodosios until his falling asleep in the Lord in 2012.

In the church of Cell, which is honoured on the day of the Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by Saint Anna (December 9), there is the miraculous icon of Saint Minas, which is especially honoured in the Cell.

Today, six monks reside in the Cell, with the elder, the Hieromonk Antipas, and a great effort is being made to preserve, rescue, and renovate it.