Kythira Churches and Monasteries
Monastery of Aghia Elessa: The monastery is built, in 375 A.D., in the place where Aghia Elessa martyred, and it is one of the highest points of the island. The view from there is magnificent. The Pilgrimage celebrates the August 1, the day of martyrdom of Aghia Elessa.
Monastery of Aghia Moni: It is located in the mountains above the harbor Diakofti and is dedicated to the Virgin (Panaghia) and the Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) of Christ. It is celebrated on August 6. The hero of the Greek Revolution of 1821, Kolokotronis has promised to Virgin Mary, that if the Greek revolution wins, he will come back and help rebuild it.
Monastery of Osios Theodoros: It is located just outside Potamos village and it is the place where Osios Theodoros lived around 900 A.D., coming from Koroni (Messinia, Peloponnese). In the monastery, the skull of the Saint is kept. It celebrates on May 12, the day of the Assumption of the Saint.
Monastery of Panaghia Mirtidiotissa: Undoubtedly, it is the most important pilgrimage of Kythira and the reference point of Kythirians from everywhere. Here, the most sacred heirloom of the island is kept: the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary, probably one of the works of Aghios Loukas, found on Kythira in a miraculous way in the 16th century (in another tradition in the 11th). The monastery celebrates on August 15 (Assumption of Virgin Mary) and on September 24 (commemoration of the fact of finding the icon of Virgin Mary and the miracle of Paralytic’s healing, where crowds of people collect from all over Greece. Also it is worth getting to Kythira on Sunday of Orthodoxy to watch the most important religious custom of the island; the “Gyra of Panaghia” (which means the tour of Virgin Mary), where dozens of pedestrians carry the icon of Myrtidiotissa from the monastery to Hora (16km), where remains for 40 days. On Easter Monday, the icon is transferred to all the villages of Kythira and enters any church which meets on the road.
Aghios Ioannis en krimno: Church-cave, where, according to the tradition, the Evangelist John stayed, before leaves the island to go to Patmos and write the Apocalypse.
Aghios Myron: The patron saint of Antikythira. In the church is kept the most sacred heirloom of the island; the icon of the saint, found in Antikythira when the island was deserted (1423-1782). It is celebrated traditionally, with a Cretan feast on 16 & 17 August and crowds of people are gathered.
You can ask to visit some of the Byzantine and post Byzantine churches scattered throughout the island. Many are decorated with incomparable art paintings and portable icons.
Kythira Churches and Monasteries Photos
