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[[Image:Simonospetra1.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Simonospetra Monastery]]'''Simonopetra Monastery''' or '''Simonos Petra''' (Greek: Σιμωνόπετρα or Σίμωνος Πέτρα) is one of the many monasteries that occupy the peninsula commonly called [[Mount Athos]]. It is dedicated to the [[Nativity]] of [[Christ]]. It is ranked thirteenth in the hierarchical order of the [[Mount Athos]] monasteries located on the peninsula. While the origins of a [[monastery]] founded by Blessed Simon the Myrrh-flowing that may have been the beginnings of the existing monastery are clouded in the mists of time, the recorded establishment of the present monastery around 1368 is credited to the Serbian prince [[Jovan Uglješa |Ioannis (Joan, Jovan) Uglješa]]. The monastery has through the years experienced changing fortunes as it has weathered various political and leadership issues and natural disasters. With the formation of a number of [[metochia]] during the twentieth century the monastery is weathering the latest disastrous fire of 1990.

[[Image:Aimilianos.jpeg|frame|right|Abbot [[Aimilianos (Vafeidis)|Aimilianos Vafeidis]]]]Under the leadership of Abbot Ieronymos, Simonopetra continued to flourish. But, after his retirement to the metochi of the Ascension in Athens in 1931, the Simonopetra monastery began another decline both intellectually and spiritually. By the time of his death in 1957, the decline of monasticism on Mt. Athos, as well as Simonopetra, was well advanced as depopulation of the monasteries continued. In 1973 a rebirth began at Simonopetra when a large group of monks under the leadership of Abbot [[Aimilianos (Vafeidis)|Aimilianos Vafeidis]] arrived from the Monastery of the Transfiguration at Meteora. Subsequently a number of metochia were established under the guidance of the monks of Simonopetra, including three in France. Again Simonopetra was faced with the destruction of monastery property by a fire that started on [[August 14]], 1990, on Mt. Athos that lasted 14 days. This again presented a challenge for the monks.

* <gallery>Image:Aimilianos.jpeg|former abbot [[Aimilianos (Vafeidis)|Archimandrite AimilianosVafeidis]] - former abbot of Simonopetra</gallery>

*[http://web.archive.org/web/20070124140404/http://www.greekmonasteries.net/athos/simonopetra Greek Monasteries: Simonopetra](archive of January 24, 2007)*[http://www.culture.gr/h/2/21/212/21210a/e212ja07eh251.html Holy jsp?obj_id=1570 Monastery of SimonopetraSimonos Petras]*[http://www.mountathos.gr/active~Active.aspx?mode~=en%7Be2df7881{e2df7881-1e72-47d8-9ff6-05698b61f327%7DView.html }View MountAthos.gr: Simonopetra]

[[el:Ιερά Μονή Σίμωνος Πέτρας]][[fr:Monastère de Simonos PetraPetras (Mont Athos)]][[ro:Mănăstirea Simonos Petras (Muntele Athos)]]