Сточарство на поседима светогорских манастира у средњем веку
Cattle Raising on the Estates of the Athos Monasteries in the Middle Ages

Summary/Abstract: The author of this paper has tried to point out the main aspects concerning cattle raising on the possessions of Athonite monasteries. As it is known, the territory of Mount Athos is the cradle of monastic life. Documents from the last decade of the 9th century show that the monastery of John Kolovos was situated in the territory of Mount Athos, and grazed its sons on surrounding non-urbanized land. Others may perhaps have come to the area too, but were obliged to pay compensation for using pastures. In case of external danger, people from neighboring regions could move to refuge on Mt. Athos, together with their cattle, on condition that the monks permitted it. However, with the appearance of St. Athanasios of Athos and the beginning of organized monastic life on the Holy Mountain, the conditions for cattle raising started more completely to change. Typical of the oldest monastic communities is strictly to forbid this activity, as it was considered that it was contrary to monastic vows and the asceticism of the Athonite monks. Documents from the 11th century, especially the chrysobull of the Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos from September 1045, demonstrate that the Athonite monks nevertheless had to rear cattle, violating the provisions of the typikon. They had to force-feed every day needed for the communities, i.e., in which, at times, several hundreds of monks stayed. Therefore, certain monasteries, such as Great Lavra and Vatopedi, were allowed to keep oxen for their needs. There are some interesting data from the very beginning of the 12th century on-the Vlachol, monasteries used in their flocks on Mt. Athos. The monks benefited from them, since they provided them with cheese, wool and wool. However, the forementioned Vlachol brought women and kids there, who, dressed in men's clothes, tended the cattle. Therefore Nicholas, the Patriarch of Constantinople (1084—1111), ordered that the Vlachol were to be expelled from the Holy Mountain, which brought about great disturbance on itself. Cattle rearing and mass, strictly forbidden grazing within the boundaries of Mt. Athos, the villages and metochia of the Athonite monasteries, scattered in nearby regions, at different rates of cattle were raised. The Athonite monasteries possessed a number of houses in the villages and metochi, in the eastern part of Chalkidike, where, according to records, there were a lot of cattle (the Great Lavra of St. Athanasios, Iviron, Zographou, Xenophon, Xeropotamou, Philotheou, etc.). Praktika containing lists of property of certain monasteries testify that a lot of cattle were raised at some of the usytillages, particularly in mountainous settlements, far from the coast. The villages of Somatou and Selas now should be mentioned first, where a lot of neat cattle and beasts of burden were kept (oxen, cows, donkeys), and even a larger number of other domestic animals, such as pigs, sheep and goats. Thus, there were between 50 and 97 oxen at Somatou, while at Selas even 150 heads of cattle were kept. According to these records, there were 723 sheep at Somatou and 923 goats at Selas, whereas some houses of usynvillages owned hundreds of sheep or goats. The census of possessions of the Athonite monasteries in coastal settlements, such as the echino of the pens, gives a different picture. There were fewer neat cattle (oxen, cows and donkeys) in that part, as well as pairs, sheep and goats. The only exception was the village of Kozil, where a lot of sheep were kept.

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