In the 15th century

From the beginning of the 15th century, when the Bulgarian state had already disappeared from the political map of the Balkans and Byzantium remained a small state with limited opportunities, the Wallachian and Moldavian rulers continued to support the Athonite monasteries. The Moldavian Voivode Stephen the Great, who repeatedly succeeded in defeating the Ottoman invaders, provided annual monetary support for the Monastery, built a new Katholikon and refectory, gave money to build a hospital and a large building on the Zograf harbour. In addition, he gifted the Monastery an icon of St. George, which still stands in the Katholikon, and two gold-woven ecclesiastical standards (Labara). 

Compiled by: Georgi Mitov