Evangelistria Monastery

Η Evangelistria Monastery, of Vangelistra according to the Skiathites, or the Holy Convent of the Annunciation of the Virgin is its most remarkable and well-preserved religious attraction Skiathos.

Drowned in the forest by olives, oaks, oaks and pines, in location of Agalianou, below the highest peak of Skiathos, was built in the late 18th century by a small group of monks of their movement "Kollyvadon", who were forced to leave Mount Athos due to their religious differences and their insistence on returning to the ancient tradition of the Church.

The construction of the monastery complex was completed in 1806 and became the main center of the kolyvades both during the dispute and in later times.

The spirit of the kolyvades strongly influenced the life of the inhabitants of Skiathos and the most remarkable of the Greek novelists Skiathitis Alexandrou Papadiamantis and the Skiathos writer Alexandrou Moraitidis.

The Evangelistria Monastery helped significantly morally and materially both the pre-revolutionary movements and the revolution of 1821. Here in 1807 the first Greek Flag with the white Cross in the middle on a blue background was designed, woven, blessed and raised.

In it, the Abbot of Niphon He swore in the chiefs Theodoros Kolokotronis, Andreas Miaoulis, Papathymios Vlachavas, Giannis Stathas, Nikotsaras, the Skiathite teacher of the Genus Epiphanios - Stefanos Demitriadis and many others, after a large meeting at the Monastery of Evangelis.

The Holy Temple is located in the center of the monastery complex, measuring 20 × 8 meters, is a three-aisled Byzantine church in the shape of a cross and the three domes are covered by gray thin slates. The floor is covered with Malta tiles and faience tiles, in various shapes. Impressive is the rich wood-carved iconostasis with remarkable portable icons of the 17th and 18th centuries. The elevation of the domes, the iconostasis and in general of the whole Temple, cause overwhelm and awe, impress and charm the pilgrim.

The monastery of Evangelistria in the beginning had dozens of monks, and was an autonomous production and economic unit, with many cells, large bank (dining room), hospital, hostel, hearth (kitchen), manger (kneader-ovens), taliagria (olive mill) , warehouses, boarding house (stable), tanks, cistern, library and two chapels, of Ag. John and St. Dimitriou. In the pre-revolutionary period and during the revolution of 21, it hosted persecuted and wounded fighters, and nowadays most of it has been renovated and turned into a museum.

In the Monastery of Evangelistria is kept a large number of sacred relics, a real sacred treasure.

In the temple of the Monastery The Holy Relics of the Saints are kept, many of which were donated by Admiral Lazaros Koundouriotis in 1823 in recognition of the great contribution of the Monastery to the liberation of the genus.

In library patriarchal lead bulls, sigils and letters, manuscripts of the last five centuries have been hoarded.

In the sacristy are preserved all that have been saved from the sacred relics: silver-plated holy glasses, trays, bread-bearers, tweezers, silver and wooden crosses of blessing, six wings, a handmade and handwritten Gospel and much more.

In the old olive mill of the Monastery is installed the Folklore Museum, where utensils, agricultural and construction tools are exhibited, the loom that according to tradition weaved the first Greek flag, while in the kitchen one can see the impressive ovens of the monastery, the abacus for the production of tsipouro.

Since 1998 it is prepared and bottled in the Monastery o "Alypiakos wine" - owes its name to the abbot Alypios - after a break of about l50 years. The Alypiakos wine, as mentioned by Alexandros Papadiamantis from Skiathos, was “suitable to alleviate the sorrows and sufferings of this world".

In the tasteful shop of the monastery one can get bottles of wine, as well as many other souvenirs and exact copies of images.

Η Holy Monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin Skiathos is open daily, at which time services are held morning and afternoon. You will find detailed information in the very useful website of the Monastery of Evangelistria!