The Skete of Saint Andrew (Serai)

It is located at the northern end of Karya, on the site of the monastery of Xystri (or Xestos), which is attested from 1057. Before the middle of the 17th century. the monastery was purchased by the former patriarch of Constantinople Athanasios III Patellaros, who rebuilt it and converted it into a cell. It then remained under the jurisdiction of the First and Great Synaxes until 1661, when it was purchased by the Vatopedi Monastery. The Serai was dedicated to Saint Anthony until 1768, when the former patriarch of Constantinople Seraphim II of Acarnan, to whom it was granted, built a new church dedicated to the Apostle Andrew. In 1842, Vatopedi was sold to Russian monks and in 1849 it was declared a skete after Russian pressure and despite the objections of the Vatopedi people. The construction of the magnificent wings of the skete and the new church began immediately, which was inaugurated in 1900. The complex included many churches and chapels, a refectory and a library with valuable Greek and Slavic manuscripts.

The number of monks at the beginning of the 20th century approached 700 and reflected the intense ecclesiastical and political presence of Russia on Athos, which was, however, abruptly interrupted by the outbreak of the Revolution of 1917. Subsequently, the Skete declined and returned to the jurisdiction of the sovereign Monastery of Vatopedi. A major fire about 40 years ago destroyed the library and a large part of the Skete. In one of the vast wings, the Athonia School is housed to this day.