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Monasteries

It is not known how did Christianity spread in Samos, but it is possible that this was the deed of Apostles Paul and John. It is a fact thought that it was spread quite early, as the ruins of the Basilicas in Pythagorio, Ireon, Kedros and other places that date back to the 5th century a.d. indicate.

Due to the ravage of the island, from the mid 15th till mid 16th century there are no ancient monasteries and churches on the island apart from Evangelistria on Mt Kerkis and Metamorphosis in Kedros, churches that date back to the 10th and 11th century respectively. All of the rest are dated from the mid 16th century and onwards.
 

Monasteries           Metohia            Country Churches

Monasteries

Vronta Monastery

It is located a few kilometers south of the village of Vourliotes in a magnificent woodland and on an altitude of 460 meters, with an extraordinary view to the North and East where you can see the Asia Minor coast. It was founded in 1566 by the monks (and brothers) Jacob and Makarios and it is dedicated to the natal of Virgin Mary. There are many frescoes, a woodcut temple and a lot of holly ware.

Monastery of Virgin Mary

(Megali Panagia)

It is located two kilometers Southeast of the village of Koumaradei and on the side of the road that leads to Miloi, in a very nice environment with an altitude of 225 meters. It has a lovely view of the plain of Chora, Pythagorio and the Asia Minor coast (the mountain of Mikali). It was founded in 1586 the monks (and brothers as well) Neilos and Dionysios and it is dedicated to the Assumption. It has to show a very nice woodcut temple, some frescoes and a lot of holly ware.
 

Monastery of the Holly Cross

(Timiou Stavrou)

It is located two kilometers Southeast of the village of Mavratzeoi next to the road and on altitude of 200 meters. In 1582, monk Neilos has founded a small church and in 1604 he and his brother Dionysios expanded it. There are frescoes, a magnificent woodcut temple and a lot of holly ware.
 

Monastery of prophet Elias

It is located three kilometers Southeast of Karlovasi, next to the road that leads to Konteika and on an altitude of 210 meters. There used to be a small church and a few cells that monks Neofilos and Gregorios had built and on 1739 the priest-monk Gregorios built the church that stands also today. There are a lot of holly ware, a few frescoes and a woodcut temple.
 

Monastery of Holly Zone

(Agia Zoni)

It is located to the East of the town of Samos, within Vlamari Valley and on an altitude of 120 meters. It has been founded by the priest-monk Meletios in 1695. It has frescoes, a woodcut temple and a lot of holly ware
 

Monastery of the Life-giving Fountain (Zoodohou Pigis)

It is located on Rampaidoni mountain to the Northeast of Samos town and on an altitude of 300 meters. From there, there is a fantastic view to the narrows of Mikali and the eye is lost in the depths of Asia Minor. It was founded in 1756 by the priest-monk Dorotheos. It has a lot of holly ware, frescoes and a wonderful woodcut temple.
 

Monastery of Holly Trinity

(Agia Triada)

It is located North east of Mitilinioi village and on an altitude of 129 meters. It was founded by the priest-monk Neofytos in 1824.


 

Metohia

There are 14 more smaller monasteries the so called “Metohia” out of whom the most important one are the following:
 

St. John the Merciful

It is located on the Northwest part of the island and it’s the only one of it’s kind to be close to the beach, in a lovely bay, opposite of the islands of Fournoi and the rocky island of Katergo. There are great springs in the area and it is indeed an oasis in the wilderness. It was founded in 1867, it belongs to the Holly Sepulture. In nowadays it has been rented to a civilian. The area used to be a place where pirates couched waiting for the ships that crossed the straits.

Spiliani.

Not far from Pythagorio and to the Northwest, within a large cave lies a small church dedicated to the Entrance to the Temple (Isodia) of Virgin Mary. Here is an old picture of Virgin Mary, whose face cannot be seen anymore and next to the church is “Agiasma”, a spring where (as the story says) holy water emerges. Out of the cave is a church dedicated to St. George and a few cells. This “Metohi” belongs to the Monastery of “Hozeviotisa” in Amorgos. This church is also known as “ Kaliarmenisa” (= kind Armenian woman).
 

Evangelistria of Mt Kerkis or St. Vasilios.

It is the oldest church standing on Samos since it was built in the 10th century and is on the highest altitude of them all, 700 meters. It is located on the South part of Mt. Kerkis, west of Marathokampos village. A country road leads up till 400 meters and from there you’ll have to climb an uphill trail. It offers a magnificent view to the South and from there you can see most of the Dodecanese Islands, Fournoi and the bay of Marathokampos. If one should follow the trail further you can find the chapel of Prophet Elias and a bit more above the summit of Mt Kerkis, Vigla, with an altitude of 1444 meters, the second highest in the Aegean after the summit “Feggari” in Samothraki.

 

Zoodohos Pigi (Hatzimanoli or Kakoperato)

It is located on Mt. Kerkis, Southeast of Kosmadei village, within the canyon that leads to Great Seitani beach and on an altitude of 660 meters. The surrounding area is wooded, to the west the rocky slopes of Mt. Kerkis are rising and you can see nothing but the surrounding mountains. 500 meters further there is a cave and within it a small church. In order to get there you must follow a very steep and dangerous trail and that’s where this “Metohi” took it’s name “Kakoperato” (very difficultly accessible).

A little to the South is the country church of St. John close to which is the gulch of Panaretos

 

Country Churches

Are plenty on Samos, some claim them to be over 800 and out of those some deserve our attention:
 

Panagia I Sarantaskaliotisa (Virgin Mary)

It is located on the Southeast side of Mt. Kerkis, in “Kiourka” valley and on an altitude of 320 meters. This country-church is dedicated to Virgin Mary and it is built in a cave. In order to reach the cave one must climb 40 steps carved in the steep rock. That is why it was named “Sarantaskaliotisa” (forty steps). In the bottom of the cave is a gulch and a cistern filled with water.

The tale says that in this cave, Pythagoras was hiding when the Samian tyrant Polycrates prosecuted him and this is why it is also known as “Pythagoras cave”.
 

Virgin Mary and Holy Trinity

One is close to the other and they are both located on the Northwest side of Mt. Kerkis on an altitude of 950 meters. Both country-churches are built in caves and have a lot of (unfortunately half-ruined} frescoes.
 

All of the above country-churches that are built on Mt. Kerkis have been built by monks and hermits during the 10th century. There were plenty of them back in those days an especially in the wilderness of Mt. Kerkis.

 

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