I.N. Assumption of the Virgin - Diocese of Hydra

Arriving at its port of unparalleled beauty Hydra, among the impressive mansions that frame it on both sides, in the center of the waterfront, the visitor's eye attracts the proud and ornate bell tower of the complex of its monastery Assumption. Here is the Holy Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin where is Metropolis of Hydra, one Art Museum, and the main parish of Hydra.

The history of the monastery begins in 1643 when a nun settled in the then deserted area of ​​today's port in the church of Agios Charalambos, and a nunnery was founded there.

From the first years of the creation of the monastery, the story of the abduction of the image of the Virgin Mary by pirates and the miracle of her adventurous return are connected. Since then, this image of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary has been named Panagia Faneromeni, because it was presented again, and the monastery Moni tis Faneromeni or simply Faneromeni or the Monastery of Hydra.

After the nun fell asleep, the monastery fell into disrepair and eventually turned into a manly one. The 1740 The Monastery of Faneromeni and the central church were erected. The beginning of the Revolution on the island was proclaimed in its katholikon and here the metropolitan of Aegina and Hydra blessed the weapons of the Struggle Gregory.

After the Liberation, the State Archives were kept and protected here, in order to avoid national dangers, while the leaders of Hydra also met here and personalities such as Kolokotronis, Neophytos Vamvas and others took refuge. The monastery ceased to function by decree of his regency 1833. It was then, until today, the cathedral of the island.

As a building, the monastery has the characteristic layout of the post-Byzantine monasteries, with the katholikon in the center and the cells and other auxiliary spaces around.

Today, the City Hall of Hydra is housed in the premises of the Monastery and in the area of ​​the old cells the Ecclesiastical and Byzantine Museum of Hydra which includes a total of 183 icons, priestly vestments, church utensils, manuscripts and antiquities, portraits of local bishops from the end of the 17th c. until today.

In the courtyard there are busts of Lazaros Koundouriotis, Andreas Miaoulis, Vassileos Georgios I and Antonis Lignos and the tomb of Lazaros Kountouriotis.

The church is a three-aisled vaulted basilica with a dome and its aisles are separated by colonnades. The middle one is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the right one to Ag. Charalambos and the left in Ag. Νικόλαο.

Impressive is marble iconostasis of the Temple made entirely of genuine white Parian marble with rich and intense embossed decoration. In the iconostasis are also the remarkable icons of the Temple with richly decorated coverings that were gifts to the Temple from rich Hydraeans and Navy.

Both are also impressive marble bell tower of the Temple with rich sculptural decoration, one of which has a clock. The "small" was built in 1806 and the second and largest in 1874. The sounds of the big bells ringing from the Big Bell Tower create awe and overwhelm.

There are four chandeliers, among which the legendary six-light chandelier located near the beautiful gate and adorned with the heads of the Louisians of France, which is said to have been taken by Pavlos Kountouriotis from Captain Sarkozy, who in turn had taken it from Versailles . It should be emphasized that all the chandeliers of the Temple and the lamps do not work with electricity but with candles or oil.