ktetor

From Ancient Greek κτήτωρ (ktḗtōr). The alternative form ktitor likely came via a Slavic intermediary such as Macedonian ктитор (ktitor) or Serbo-Croatian ktitor.

ktetor (plural ktetors)

1. One who funds the building or reconstruction of an Eastern Orthodox church or monastery.
   • 1994, John Van Antwerp Fine Jr., The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest, page 38:

     Sava drew upon the monastery’s typikon (rule or charter), which was his privilege as ktitor (founder) of the institution.

   • 2004, Carolyn L. Connor, Women of Byzantium, page 268:

     Theodora’s prime concern as founder, or ktitor, and first abbess of the nunnery is her daughter, Euphrosyne, who was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and to Christ when still a child.

   • 2004, Leri Tavadze, “Social Composition of Feudal Georgia According to Korogho Reliefs”, in Proceedings. Institute of Georgian History. Faculty of Humanities. Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, volume 4, number 4:

     The closest figure to the central part of facade is the bearded ktitor of the church holding its model in his right hand.

   • 2016, Michael Palairet, Macedonia: A Voyage through History, Volume 1: From Ancient Times to the Ottoman Invasions, page 370:

     The Dragaš family regarded Poganovo as their “family monastery” but as far as I can determine there is no ktitor portrait there today.

• ktetory

• Kotter