Editing Abbey (section)

=== Great Lavra, Mount Athos ===
{| align="right"
|+ '''Great Lavra Monastery, Mount Athos<br>(Lenoir, who named it ''Santa Laura'')'''{{sfn|Venables|1911}}
|-
| [[File:abbey 01.png]] ||
:A. Gateway
:B. Chapels
:C. Guesthouse
:D. Church
:E. Cloister
:F. Fountain
:G. Refectory
:H. Kitchen
:I. Monks' cells
:K. Storehouses
:L. Postern gate
:M. Tower
|}
The layout of the monastic coenobium was influenced by a number of factors. These included a need for defence, economy of space, and convenience of access. The layout of buildings became compact and orderly. Larger buildings were erected and defence was provided by strong outside walls. Within the walls, the buildings were arranged around one or more open courts surrounded by [[cloister]]s. The usual arrangement for monasteries of the [[Eastern world]] is exemplified in the plan of the convent of the [[Great Lavra]] at [[Mount Athos]].

With reference to the diagram, right, the convent of the [[Great Lavra]] is enclosed within a strong and lofty blank stone wall. The area within the wall is between three and four acres (12,000 and 16,000&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>). The longer side is about {{convert|500|ft|m}} in length. There is only one entrance, which is located on the north side (A), defended by three iron doors. Near the entrance is a large tower (M), a constant feature in the monasteries of the [[Levant]] (Eastern [[Mediterranean]] area). There is a small [[postern]] gate at L.

The [[enceinte]] comprises two large open courts, surrounded with buildings connected with cloister galleries of wood or stone. The outer court, which is the larger by far, contains the [[granary|granaries]] and storehouses (K), the kitchen (H) and other offices connected with the [[refectory]] (G). Immediately adjacent to the gateway is a two-storied guest-house, entered from a cloister (C). The inner court is surrounded by a cloister (EE) from which one enters the monks' cells (II).

In the centre of this court stands the [[katholikon]] or conventual church, a square building with an [[apse]] of the cruciform domical [[Byzantine]] type, approached by a domed [[narthex]]. In front of the church stands a marble fountain (F), covered by a dome supported on columns.

Opening from the western side of the cloister, but actually standing in the outer court, is the refectory (G), a large cruciform (cross shaped) building, about {{convert|100|ft|m}} square, decorated within with [[fresco]]es of saints. At the upper end is a semicircular recess, similar to the [[triclinium]] of the [[Lateran Palace]] in [[Rome]], in which is placed the seat of the [[hegumenos]] or abbot. This apartment is chiefly used as a meeting place, with the monks usually taking their meals in their separate cells.{{sfn|Venables|1911}}