THE MONASTERY

Virgin Mary Xrisoleontissa's Monastery was built in the early 17th century. It has high walls and it looks more like a fort. It was built that way because the monks were afraid of the pirates. You can communicate with the Monastery through a big door. It's a big, two storey building with a garden in the center in which there is a church and next to it, a three-storey tower.

The tower rises above the valley and it was built around 1600. The church was built in 1800 in place of the old one which was burned.

The church has an elaborate carved icon screen, beautiful murals and Virgin Mary's icon. The Monastery was very rich and in its possession was the biggest part of the island.

During the 19th century, most of the fields of the Monastery expropriated and the monks left. From the year 1935 the Monastery became feminine and ten nuns live there ever since. The Monastery celebrates on 15th August and the biggest festival of the island takes place on that day.