The monastery was built
under the supervision of two Georgian monks, John the Iberian and Tornike
Eristavi between 980-983 and housed Georgian clergy and priests. Iveron
literally means "of the Iberians" in Greek.
The name Iviron originated
from the ancient Georgian Kingdom of Iberia (Iveria) where the master architect
of the monastery Ioannes was from.
The monastery library
contains 2,000 manuscripts, 15 liturgical scrolls, and 20,000 books in
Georgian, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin.
The monastery has the
relics of more canonized saints than any other on Mount Athos. The Panagia
Portaitissa, a famous 9th century icon, is also located at Iviron.