In 1018, when Nephon was abbot, its properties increased with the land granted by the Athonite community. At the same time, the building complex expanded and the new Catholicon (main church) was built. During the 11th century, the monastery was one of the most important in Mount Athos, highly ranked in the hierarchy.

It seems that the building complex found by the excavations, was built in a century. It is a five-side castle, fortified by ten or eleven towers. The monastery was abandoned in the late 12th century for unknown reasons and it was granted by a Golden Bull, together with its dependencies, to the reestablished Hilandariou monastery. In around 1206, a Frank lord who repeatedly attacked Mount Athos -event that stopped in 1211 by the intervention of the Pope of Rome- seems to have settled in the monastery. That is why the remains of the monastery were known and are often referred to –in maps also- as Fragokastro.

Worth it to see:

In the excavation site visitors will admire the castle, the towers and mainly the Catholicon of the monastery which is being excavated. The castle consists of five construction phases, all older than 1211. The surface inside the walls is 5,5 acres and the walls had 11 towers –some of which are being restored.

The excavation and restoration works are still in progress.