TRIBUTE TO THE MONASTERIES OF VIRGIN MARY IN ARCADIA

Text and research by Giota Christoforou, translation by Eva Trombetas

Arcadia's natural beauty, its picturesque villages, its ancient history, is also known for its religious heritage with countless churches and monasteries, which stand out for their picturesqueness, their historicity, as well as for the beautiful natural landscapes in which they are located. In this tribute we will make a reference to the monasteries which are dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Virgin Mary = Panagia), which is honored in Arcadia in more than 25 monasteries.

Panagia Makelaritissa, Monastery of Ampelaki. In the sleep of the blessed woman Paraskevi from the village of Tziva of Mantineia, appeared resplendent and hovering the Virgin Mary. She told her of the cave where her image lay kept. Paraskevi was a woman of many sufferings and sorrows, looking someone in the face, only pain and sorrow could be seen, but her faith in God led her to the greatest joy. She faithfully followed the instructions of Panagia and with the help of her son and the priest from the next village, the icon was raised. It had been painted by the Evangelist Luke and had been transported to the inaccessible point of the cave near the village of Scortsino by a monk, who was chased by the Turks found there taking with him the holy icon. At the time of the Divine Liturgy immediately after finding the icon, holy water was poured from the rock. He who worshipped with faith and reverence is healed of every mental and physical disease, tradition says. The monastery is called Ampelaki monastery because behind it there were vineyards. The cave is located among the rocks of mount Taygetos and was built in the early 19th century, after seven years since the discovery of the icon on Friday. It celebrates on September 8, located in Eastern Falesia and access is possible in two ways, either to go to the monastery from Tripoli (Megalopolis, Leontari, Scortsinou), or from Sparta.

Panagia Makelaritissa, Monastery of Ampelaki

Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Episkopi of Tegea. The impressive Byzantine church of the Virgin Mary is located between the village of Stadio and the old Episkopi. The church is a miniature of the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople and is estimated to have been built in the 11th century AD while its restoration was carried out in 1889 by Ernesto Ziller. The church is also called Episkopi as it was in the middle ages the seat of bishop Tegeas. It is a trihypostatos and honors the Virgin Mary, saint Spyridon, as well as Zoodochos Pigi. It is built in the hollow part of the ancient theatre which was discovered by archaeologists and which evaluate it chronologically in the year 175 AD built by Antiochus. However, investigations have shown that in its place there was an older Theatre which is placed chronologically in the 4th century BC. Within the unique grove of Tegea and other important monuments stand in the area. The church celebrates on the 15th of August, while in the grove where the church is located is organized every year by the Tegean Association great fair that attracts thousands of visitors from all over Greece and includes many cultural and folklore events, with religious and archaeological interest.

church of the Assumption, Episkopi of Tegea

Holy Monastery of Panagia Malevis. In a very short distance from village Agios Petros, in the lush forest of cedars is the miraculous Monastery of Panagia Malevi. The monastery was originally founded in the 8th century in Kanales, at a point higher than the point it is now, but due to adverse weather conditions and for the survival of the monks, in the 11th century the new church was built lower, on the same mount by the monk Joseph Karatzas. The spot where the new monastery was built was indicated by the Virgin herself to the monk according to tradition. In a place full of wadding she lit her candle curiously, indicating to the faithful the miraculous icon. The icon of the Virgin gushes myrrh the like of which has not existed on Earth. The fragrant myrrh appeared in the icon in 1964 and filled with the smell that was so intense the monastery and the surrounding area. The myrrh ran like a fountain that you open during delivery, while its colors were four. At first it was white as milk, then it was the blue of the sky, then it became like a diamond and last time transparent and has never changed since. The monastery celebrates every year on August 23. In the Monastery of Malevi there is a chapel dedicated to Saint Nile the Myroblete, who was born in Saint Peter and celebrated on May 7.

Monastery of Panagia Malevis, Parnonas

Monastery of Elonis, Leonidio. The Monastery of Elonis is built and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it is located literally on the rocks constantly attracting people of all ages. The icon of the Most Holy Theotokos which is kept in the katholikon of the monastery is painted by the Evangelist Luke. The monastery was built in 1300, while the monastery celebrates on August 15 and 23.

Monastery of Elonis, Leonidio

Monastery of Panagia Gorgoepikou, Nestani. East of Nestani, high on Goulas hill, is the Monastery of Panagia Gorgoepikoou. It is a place of worship to the surviving icon of the Virgin Mary, while whatever you order to her by faith, the Virgin Mary will quickly bring to you according to tradition.

Monastery of Panagia Gorgoepikou, Nestani

Monastery of Epano Chrepa, Tripolis. In the monastery you keep the grail and the gospel humbly worshipped by Theodoros Kolokotronis. The monastery is located 10 km from Tripolis. Rightly the fir-covered monastery is considered to be located at the highest point of the Peloponnese of all monasteries, at 1280 meters. Built in 1100 years, it experienced many looting and raids, but the miraculous icon of the Virgin protected the faithful. In a miraculous way the icon three times left the church of st. George in Tripolis where it was guarded and returned back. The monastery celebrates every year on September 14, the day of the Holy Cross, as well as on August 15.

Monastery of Epano Chrepa, Tripolis

Panagia of Tripolitsa, church of Agios Vasilios, Tripolis. Every year on August 1, the miraculous icon of Panagia Tripolitsa is celebrated. The prominent place of the miraculous icon is kept in the church of st. Basil located on the central square of the city. Twice saved from fire the resplendent image, which was created during the difficult years of the Greek Revolution and specifically in 1823. In the parish of the metropolitan church of the city was found by a donation of the family of Anastasios Gyzanis. The procession of the icon takes place in the presence of official persons of the army and the state.

Agios Vasilios church, Panagia Tripolitsa icon, Tripolis

Holy Monastery of Philosophos, Lousios. The old monastery of Philosophos was founded in 967 in a ravine of the river Lousios by the secretary of Nikiforos Fokas, whose real name was Ioannis Lampardopoulos, but they called him philosopher. It is a wonderful example of Byzantine architecture of the 10th century. The monastery is located 4 km south of Dimitsana and is dedicated to the assumption of the Virgin Mary, and celebrates on August 23. In the 17th century the new monastery of Philosophos was founded and is 400 meters from the old monastery. The frescoes of the monastery constitute a set of paintings of transcendence, which is due to the builders of Epirus. However, it is worth mentioning that the completion of the hagiography of the church was carried out by Mavraidis-Pasha Farmakis from Stemnitsa, who converted to Christianity. Its wood-carved iconostasis is of particular beauty. In the monastery's secret school the children learned letters during the Turkish occupation, while later it functioned as one of the most important priestly schools. It is worth mentioning that it was from here that Patriarch Gregory V graduated. One can visit the monastery either from Dimitsana or from the village of Elliniko.

Monastery οf Philosophos, Lοusios

Holy Monastery of Hemyalon, Lousios. The monastery of Panagia Emyalon stands majestically just below the Monastery of Philosophos. The monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and celebrates on September 8. It was founded in 1608 by the brothers Kontogianni, who came from the village of Aimyaloi, from where it took its name. In the winepress of the monastery there is a marble inscription that bears the drama that the Kolokotronians experienced from the betrayal of the monk. The Kolokotronians asked the monk of the monastery to take care of them with food and wine and hide them from the Turks. But the friar was annoyed, as it seems, by the way they asked him, he was afraid of their threat that if he betrayed them they would cut off his head and hang it for the crows to eat and so he secretly sent the friar to Dimitsana to tell the Turks. In 1806, during which there was a great outbreak of kleftouria, the extinction of the generation of Kolokotronians took place. Theodoros Kolokotronis, who was watching the tragedy of his own people from the opposite side of the monastery and could not intervene to help them, said: "We can not fit here anymore". After this event in the soul of Kolokotronis only one thought prevailed and that concerned the freedom of our country. With proper strategy he devoted himself to the struggle for the liberation of Greece. In 1925 the monastery was joined by the Monastery of John the Baptist and in 1934 it was declared a National Monument.

Monastery of Hemyalon, Lousios

Holy Monastery of Kalamiou, ancient Gortyna. On the west side of the river Lousios, in the green landscape, the new monastery of Kalamiou emerges beautiful. The monastery is dedicated to the assumption and celebrates every year on August 15. At the back of the Monastery are the ruins of the old monastery while inside the cave are kept bones and skulls. The katholikon of the old monastery is painted by Cretans. The church was painted in 1705, but the Monastery, according to historical sources, dates back two centuries earlier. The monastery is located in the village of Atsicholos very close to ancient Gortyna and the sanctuary of Asclepius.

Kalamiou Monastery, ancient Gortyna

Panagia's church in the village Panagia Arcadia. The church of Panagia is located in the picturesque village that bears the name of Panagia and every year is honored on the 8th of September, with great pomp and traditional festival.

Panagia's church in the village Panagia, Arcadia

Karvounareiki Panagia, Megalopolis. There is a picturesque little chapel literally choked by the plane trees that surround it. Cold waters run around and every year at the nines of the Virgin Mary, crowds of people come to worship. It is located on the provincial road that leads from Megalopolis to Karytaina.

Karvounareiki Panagia, Megalopolis

Holy Monastery of the Assumption, new church of Megalopolis. The church built by Theodore Kolokotronis. Theodore is moved by writing in his memoirs about the vow he made to the Most Holy Theotokos. With how much faith and love he promised the Virgin Mary, that he would build her church, if she would help with her grace in the liberation of Greeks. And so it happened. On the west side above the entrance to the temple, stands the marble inscription with the name of the elder and the date he made the vow. The stone-built Monastery celebrates every year on August 15th.

Assumption Monastery, new church of Megalopolis

Holy Monastery of Panagia Kernitsa, Vytina. Near Vytina is the Monastery of Kernitsa which is dedicated to the assumption of the Virgin Mary. The miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary has been found in a cave which functioned as an ascetarium. It takes its name from the old medieval town of Kernitsa. It is believed that it is one of the oldest monasteries of Arcadia which indicates as the year of acquisition 1105 during the reign of Andronikos Palaiologos. Today it operates as a women's monastery which accepts pilgrims. It is built at an altitude of 840 meters, while the Divine Liturgy is chanted at night. He has offered much during the Greek Revolution with the secret school that operated, burned down by the devastating onslaught of Albanians in 1770 and Ibrahim later, while during World War II, the Germans executed the priest. The monastery celebrates on August 15.

Monastery of Panagia Kernitsa, Vytina

Monastery of Panagia Kleivokas, Kontovazena. South of Kontovazena, a picturesque traditional settlement of Gortynia, is the Monastery of Kleivokas dedicated to Panagia. The monastery celebrates twice, on the novena of the Virgin Mary and on the feast of Zoodochos Pigi, the day of finding the miraculous icon in a cave. 103 stone steps lead you to the stone church, half of which is nestled in the rock. It is said that the church existed from the 5th to 6th century, but then it was destroyed. In a vision of a merchant from Kontovazena who lived in India, the Virgin Mary appeared and asked him to build her church again. In 1870 the miraculous icon was found by shepherds who saw the light shining in the cave.

Monastery of Panagia Kleivokas, Kontovazena

Holy Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Bouras. In Leontari Arcadia is the Monastery of the assumption, which celebrates on August 23. It was founded in the 11th to 12th centuries and the name means "brave". During the Turkish occupation there was a gathering place for the members of the Filiki Eteria. The large-sized icon of the Virgin Mary of the infant was hung in the iconostasis by the elder Ioannikios in 1831.

Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Bouras

Holy Monastery of the assumption, Valtesiniko. The stone chapel dedicated to the Assumption celebrates on August 15. Built in a beautiful green nature it was destined to experience the barbarism of the Turkalbans and Ibrahim, but it continues to exist and honor the Virgin Mary, for 400 years. It is located about 1 km away from Valtesiniko village.

Assumption monastery, Valtesiniko

Holy Monastery of Kandila. The monastery is located in village Kandila, which belongs to the province of Mantinea. Leaving Levidi and heading north, on the border of the prefecture of Argolida and Corinthia, high on a steep rock is built the Monastery of the assumption, which is believed to have been built during the fall of Constantinople. The monastery is decorated with beautiful hagiographies of the later centuries, while it was a refuge of the Greeks during the Greek Revolution, during which it also functioned as a hospital.

Monastery of Kandilas

Many churches, chapels and monasteries of Arcadia, each separate, each with its own history, its own traditions, natural beauties, with religious, folklore and archaeological interest. Indicatively mention the following, and I hope everyone is able to visit: Panagia Vlacherna, a Monastery of the Dormition Makrisiou, the Monastery of Virgin Mary Valtetsiou, Monastery of Eleousis Palaiopanagia in Meligou, Monastery Eortakoustis, Monastery of the Dormition in Chrisovitsi, Monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Tropea (cathedral), Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the Velimachi.

Eleousis Palaiopanagia Monastery, Meligou