Guide to the holy places of Greece. Orthodox Greece Relics of saints in Greece
Shrines of Greece
It is known that Ancient Greece is the cradle of European culture. And indeed it is. Homer, Aeschylus, Plato and Aristotle were all Greeks. The conquests of Alexander the Great brought the seeds of this great culture to the very depths of Asia. Rome, which conquered Greece in the 2nd century BC. could not, and did not want to give up the Greek achievements. The Greek language, until the fall of Rome, and even more so during the Byzantine Empire, was the language of science, poetry and theology. All the miraculously preserved ancient texts of the Gospel were written in Greek. Therefore, in the earliest period of the spread of Christianity, it was especially important to convey the Word of God specifically to Greece, which had changed in many respects, but had not lost the glory of the original source of European civilization. The main role in the enlightenment of this country, the replacement of pagan shrines of Greece with Christian ones, was played by the missionary journey of the Holy Apostle Paul in the 50s of the 1st century after the Nativity of Christ.
Shrines of Athens
Church of St. Apostolov, Athens, Greece.
Parthenon
Surprisingly, when it comes to the ancient Parthenon, which even now amazes the imagination, people always remember its pagan history. However, we must remember that for more than 1000 years it was a Christian temple! An inexhaustible stream of pilgrims flocked to this shrine of Greece. After all, here they kept: the gospel, rewritten by St. herself. Queen Helena, the relics of St. Rev. Macarius of Egypt, as well as other relics, information about which remains unknown. Time and wars have taken their toll. During the period of Turkish occupation, the Parthenon was even a mosque. Now it is a museum that attracts the attention of not only tourists, but also numerous pilgrims.
Nearby is the famous Areopagus, where the Holy Apostle Paul preached. Little has been preserved from the place where the most noble and educated citizens of Athens listened to strange and unusual words about the Son of God, who atoned for the sins of men, about love for enemies, about the Kingdom not of earth, but of Heaven. The stone steps along which St. ascended. Paul, little has changed in almost 2000 years, but how Athens itself has changed! From the center of pagan philosophy they turned into a stronghold of Orthodoxy and the capital of Orthodox Greece. 
Church of St. Nicholas, Athens
The shrines resting in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens tell us about the tragic fate of Christianity during the period of Turkish rule. This temple contains the relics of St. Gregory V, Patriarch of Constantinople. In 1821, an anti-Turkish uprising of Greeks for independence began, which was mercilessly suppressed by the occupiers. The victims of the Sultan's regular army were women, old people and children. All the anger at the failure to suppress the uprising was taken out by the Turks on the elderly primate of the Church. He was tortured and then hanged on the gates of the Patriarchate in Constantinople. The body was thrown into the Bosphorus, but the captain of the Russian ship picked it up and transported it to Odessa. In 1871, the relics were solemnly returned as a shrine to the already independent liberated Greece.
Shrines of Thessaloniki
Basilica of St. Demetrius
The first church on the site of the dungeon, where, according to legend, Saint Demetrius suffered martyrdom (according to another version, over his grave) was built between 313-323. A hundred years later, in 412-413, the Illyrian nobleman Leontius, in memory of his deliverance from paralysis, built the first large church between the ancient baths and the stadium that had turned into ruins. The altar part of the built church was located above the supposed burial place of the saint, and during its construction his relics were found, secretly buried there, according to his life, by Thessalonian Christians in 306.
This ancient port city is still second in population after Athens. It had enormous military, commercial and political significance in the first centuries after the Nativity of Christ. The heavenly patron of Thessaloniki is the holy great martyr Demetrius, who at the beginning of the 4th century became commander of the city's garrison. His parents were secret Christians and raised their son with love for the Lord, in piety and faith. The persecution of Christians either subsided or resumed again. One day, Demetrius received an imperial decree to take the most brutal measures to eradicate Christianity. Neither the fear of losing such an important post, nor even the fear of inevitable torture and execution, troubled his heart. He not only directly and publicly confessed the faith of Christ, but denounced idolatry and called on everyone to turn to the true faith. The emperor, realizing the powerlessness of his earthly power, in anger ordered the execution of Demetrius. The saint suffered martyrdom in the Roman baths, near the gladiator arena. The Christians of Thessaloniki hid the body of St. Demetrius in a well not far from this place. Later, a majestic temple was erected over the saint’s grave. Relics of St. Demetrius is one of the main shrines of Greece, which Orthodox Christians from all over the world come to worship.
In the center of the city stands the majestic Metropolitan Cathedral in honor of St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, known primarily for his theological works in the substantiation and defense of unceasing prayer - hesychasm.
In the vicinity of Thessaloniki there is another holy monastery of Greece - the monastery of St. ap. and the Evangelist John the Theologian. Here are the relics of St. Arseny of Cappadocia and Elder Paisius of the Holy Mountain. St. Arseny, was born in the small village of Farasa in the territory of modern Turkey. Ordained as a deacon, he remained in his native village and tried, despite the strictest ban on the part of the Turks, to teach children the Greek language. Strict fasting and prayer yielded their fruits - the gift of healing and foresight. Saint Arsenios fearlessly stood up to protect Farasa from the oppression of the Turks and unclean robbers, who knew about the saint and were afraid to cause any harm to the inhabitants if they learned that he was nearby. Many miracles, by the will of God, were performed by St. Arseny and at the end of his earthly journey. Here - in the monastery of St. John the Theologian - rests the relics of another ascetic of piety, Elder Paisius the Holy Mountain, whom the saint himself baptized. Arseny. Elder Paisios carried out prayer service for a long time on Holy Mount Athos, and then was the confessor of a nunnery, having acquired the grace of God with his righteous life.
Shrines of Corfu
Covered with green forests framed by the azure sea, the island of Corfu is not only a fertile place, but also an amazingly beautiful place. The light of Christianity spilled onto this land around the year 37, when the saints arrived here. Jason and Sosipater are apostles from the seventy. Thus, Corfu was enlightened before the rest of Greece. One of the most important shrines of Greece - the relics of St. Spiridon.
The future saint was born and lived in Cyprus, in the small town of Trimifunta. He did not receive any education and was a simple shepherd, but his pious disposition, meekness and goodwill were known throughout the area. Having become a widower, Spiridon became a monk and continued serving God in the same way he served people, without ceasing to help the residents of his native village. Grateful residents elected him bishop of Trimifunta. In 325, the First Ecumenical Council took place in Nicaea, at which the Orthodox had difficulty defending the Creed from the Aryan heretics, who considered God the Father higher than God the Son. Suddenly, the previously unknown Bishop Spyridon came forward. He held out his hand with a piece of tile clutched in it. By the will of God, a miracle happened: a flame burst out of the tiles, water flowed out and dry clay remained - three elements confirming the unity and inseparability of the Holy Trinity. The heretics were put to shame, and the future saint, despite the fame gained after this event, modestly, as befits a Christian, continued his ministry in Trimifunt. Subsequently, the relics of the saint were transported to Corfu, where many miracles are performed to this day through his prayerful intercession.
In total there are more than 800 churches and monasteries on the island.
Patras
Church of St. Adreus in Patras.
Among the shrines of Greece, for the Russian pilgrim, the relics of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called are of particular importance. According to legend, the apostle preached not only in the Greek lands, but also consecrated the founding site of the future capital of Rus', Kyiv, and even reached the upper reaches of the Dnieper.
The Word of God found attentive and sincere listeners among the inhabitants of Patras. After some time, as the life of the holy apostle tells, the majority of the population accepted Christianity. Statues of pagan gods were broken, rich townspeople distributed property to the poor, the poor, having no money, helped as much as they could to anyone who asked. And only the imperial power could not come to terms with the triumph of the true faith. The apostle was crucified upside down on a cross shaped like the letter “X”. This is what the apostle himself asked, out of humility, who did not consider himself worthy to accept the same cross as the Savior. A crowd of thousands was ready to revolt to save their beloved teacher, but the apostle called on them to obey the authorities and forgive their enemies. The relics of the saint and part of the cross on which he was crucified rest in the majestic cathedral of the city of Patras.
Meteora
An amazing sense of solitude and quiet prayerful joy embrace the pilgrim in the Meteor monasteries. Founded on huge miraculous pillars of rock, they become a symbol of surrendering oneself into the hands of God. Now only a few monks work in each of them, but there were times when Meteora was a center of theology and educational activity. In the monastery of St. The head of the first martyr Stephen in Meteora rests, as well as a particle of the relics of the holy martyr Charalampios, who suffered during persecutions in the 3rd century. after the Nativity of Christ.
Pilgrimage to the shrines of Greece, of course, is not limited to the listed cities and monasteries. A special topic is the holy islands of Greece, in particular Fr. Patmos, where St. preached and labored in prayer. Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
International Pilgrimage Center "Pokrov"
Northern Greece
Convent of St. ap. and ev. Ioannis Theologian is a 30-minute drive from Thessaloniki. The quiet monastery is located in the small town of Suroti. The Athonite elder Paisiy Svyatogorets helped found the monastery. One day he was approached by women who wanted to found a monastery where they could live according to the strict Athonite rules. Soon the elder found a wonderful picturesque place for a convent, received a blessing for its foundation from the bishop, and in 1967 the first sisters settled in the monastery. Now there are 67 of them, and they really live according to the old Athonite traditions. Services are held by candlelight without electricity. Another tradition, typical of many monasteries in Greece, has been preserved in the monastery - treating visitors to Turkish delight and cold water. To get to the monastery, you need to climb a mountain. So such a treat comes in very handy.
One of the main shrines of the monastery is the grave of Elder Paisius the Holy Mountain; thousands of pilgrims flock to it. One of the nuns is always near the grave, keeping order. People flock here to honor the memory of this amazing man. 
Elder Paisios the Svyatogorets, in the world Arsenios Eznepidis, was born in Faras of Cappadocia (in Turkey) in 1924 into a large family. Two weeks after the birth of Arsenius, the Pharasian Greeks fled from Turkey to Greece. Before leaving, Saint Arsenius of Cappadocia (1841-1924), who was then the parish priest in the village, baptized the boy and gave the child his name. He also uttered words that became prophetic for Paisius: “I want to leave behind a monk.”
As a child, little Arseny loved to read the lives of saints; his older brother even took the books away from him and hid them from him. Arseny spent his youth in the city of Konitsa, where he attended school and received the profession of a carpenter. The Greek Civil War (1944-1948) began, and he was drafted into the active army. After serving, Arseny went to Mount Athos, and in 1954 he accepted the ryassophore with the name Averky. And two years later he was tonsured into the minor schema with the name Paisius. From 1958 to 1962 he lived at the Konitsky Monastery in the village of Stomio, after which he went to Sinai. He spent two years in the monastery of the holy martyrs Galaktion and Epistimia on Mount Sinai, where his cell is still preserved, but then, due to lung disease, he returned to Athos and settled in the Iveron monastery.
In 1966, the disease developed so severely that Father Paisius had most of his lungs removed. It was then that several women approached him with a request to help found a monastery.
Father Paisiy constantly supported the monastery and twice a year until his death on July 12, 1994, he came to visit the sisters from Athos. He died in Suroti and was buried there. As the sisters say, this is right. If he had been buried on Mount Athos, women would not have been able to come to him. Relics of St. It was no coincidence that Arseny of Capadocia ended up in the monastery, in the creation and life of which Father Paisius played a huge role. They were born in the same village, and it was St. Arseny baptized Father Paisius, giving the child his name, prophetically saying: “I want to leave behind me a monk.” This happened in Pharas of Cappadocia, where St. Arsenius of Capadocia was the parish priest at that time.
At an early age, Arseny of Capadocia lost his parents. He was educated at the seminary in Smyrna (modern Izmir, Türkiye). At the age of 26, he took monastic vows at the Monastery of John the Baptist in Zinji-Dere in Caesarea (modern Keyseri, Turkey), was ordained as a deacon and sent by Metropolitan Paisius II to Farasa to teach children to read and write using church books.
In 1870, the Monk Arseny was ordained to the rank of priest and elevated to the rank of archimandrite. He made 5 pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and therefore he was nicknamed Haj Efendi. The pastoral activity of the monk continued in Faras until he was 55 years old. He instructed and confirmed the faith of the inhabitants of the Greek enclave, which was constantly under threat of destruction. The Monk Arseny foresaw the coming trials - wars and the exodus from his native land. In 1924, during the resettlement of the Greeks of Asia Minor, he accompanied his flock and died 40 days after arriving in Greece on the island of Corfu. The relics of the saint were transported first to the city of Konitsa, and then to the monastery of St. John the Theologian in Suroti.
Monastery of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker is located near the city of Thessaloniki. The Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker is his patroness and intercessor. There is an opinion among scientists that she tied up where her monastery stands today.
St. Anastasia was born and raised in Rome at the end of the 3rd century. Her mentor and teacher of faith was the holy martyr Chrysogon. Since childhood, leading a good Christian life, she has kept herself pure and strengthened in virtues. Desiring to devote his life to Christ, St. Anastasia visited persecuted Christians in prisons and dungeons. She supported them spiritually and helped them financially, distributing her inheritance. During her lifetime, the Saint received from God the gift of healing and helped many sick and suffering.
The saint is called the “Great Martyr”, since she courageously endured all the severe tortures and torments. She is also called the “Pattern Maker”, since she was given the power from the Lord to heal physical and spiritual illnesses. In her prayers she is asked to resolve the bonds of those unjustly convicted and to give comfort to those in prison. It is also customary to ask the saint for protection from witchcraft.
St. Theophania, the queen of Byzantium, designated this monastery as a royal one, and in 888 she donated large financial resources for the needs of the monastery. The incorrupt relics of Queen Theophania are to this day in the Patriarchal Cathedral in Constantinople. She is considered the first beautographer of the monastery. At the same time, the monastery was given a gift to St. the relics of the Patroness of the monastery - the head and part of the right leg of the Great Martyr, which are still kept in the monastery church and are its main shrine. Then the monastery fell into disrepair, but it was a miracle that it survived. In 1522, Saint Theona found the holy monastery of the Pattern Maker in a state of desolation. It was he who restored it and made it prosperous.
St. Theon was the abbot of the monastery he revived, and then in 1535 he was elected Metropolitan of the city of Thessalonica. Holy and incorruptible relics of St. The pheons are located in the monastery church to the right of the iconostasis.
In 1821, the monastery was badly damaged by the Turks, who destroyed and burned it. Since the rich library, archives and many monastic treasures burned down then, information about the history of the monastery from the 9th to the 16th centuries that has reached us is very scarce.
Kalambaka is not a very large city with a population of 11.5 thousand people. It is the capital of the district of the same name, which occupies the northern part of Trikala prefecture. Located at an altitude of 247 meters above sea level. Nearby are the famous Meteor rocks.
People come to Meteora from all over the world. This unique place is stunningly beautiful. Smoothly polished inaccessible rocks, like pillars, connect the sky and the earth saturated with Christianity. Meteors did not get their name by chance; in Greek, “Meteora” means “floating in the skies” or “suspended between heaven and earth.” Almost 30 million years ago, nature created incredible rocks on the flat surface of the Thessalian plain; then they were at the bottom of the ocean, water knocked down the sand and gave them amazing shapes, which it did not leave anywhere else in the world. But it is not only the picturesque landscape that attracts tourists to this place. The strongest energy of the holy place is felt here. Since the 10th century, Meteora has been one of the largest monastic complexes in Greece. These impregnable rocks have become a symbol of faith, asceticism, repentance and renunciation of worldly goods. For many centuries, monks have lived on the peaks, for whom the rocks have become not only a place where they can quietly and calmly indulge in the service of God, but also find reliable protection during the time of the Turkish conquests. At first, the monks lived in caves and rock holes, then gradually monasteries began to form. Until the 20s of the last century, it was possible to get to the monasteries only using a system of stairs, scaffolding and rope structures. Most often, monks and pilgrims used nets and baskets, which were lifted to the tops with the help of hand blocks. All these methods of ascent caused fear and anxiety among those who wanted to get to the top. At an altitude of several tens of meters, a strong wind begins, which shakes and threatens to tear down the seemingly unreliable structures. The ascent to the monasteries became a kind of test of faith. Now, of course, there are roads and stairs carved into the rocks. Once there were 24 monasteries, now only six monasteries are active: Transfiguration, St. Varlaam, St. Nicholas, Barbara or Rusan, Holy Trinity and St. Stefan. Two of them are female.
When the Rusany monastery was created is unknown exactly, as is the origin of its name. Perhaps the monastery was founded by Rusanos, a native of the town of Rusana. According to another version, the monastery was founded in 1288 by hieromonks Nicodemus and Benidikt. The only reliable facts include the fact that in 1545, with the permission of the Metropolitan of the city Larisa Vissarion and the abbot of the monastery of Greater Meteors, the brothers hieromonks Joasaph and Maxim built the monastery catholicon in the Byzantine style on the site of the destroyed Church of the Transfiguration and restored the monastery. Unfortunately, the monastery was often plundered, and few relics remained from it. Those that have survived are now in the Transfiguration Monastery (Big Meteora). In 1940, the monastery fell into decay and lost its monks. Since 1950, for 20 years, Elder Eusevia from the neighboring village of Kastraki single-handedly preserved the three-story building of the monastery, which currently, in a renewed form, operates as a convent, which received its second name in honor of St. Barbarians.
To the Monastery of St. Stefan's, located in a very picturesque location on a huge rock, is easy to get to. To visit it, you just need to cross one bridge. It is the richest of the Meteora monasteries. The first thing that pilgrims saw before 1927 when they entered the monastery was a walled-up slab with the inscription “6770. Jeremiah,” which was located in the arch above the entrance to the monastery and meant that a certain hermit named Jeremiah lived on this rock already in 6770 from the creation of the world, i.e. in 1192 from the birth of Christ. There is a version that this hermit and other monks built a small chapel of St. Stephen and several cells. However, the monastery itself was built at the end of the 14th century by Anatoly Katakouzinos and Philotheus of Siatinsky, whose images are depicted in a small church on the territory of the monastery. At the end of the 19th century, the monastery was inhabited by 31 monks, but by 1960 it was almost empty, in 1961 it was converted into a women's monastery, and today it is thriving. In the refectory of the monastery there is an exhibition of monastery treasures.
In 1340, Afanasy Meteorsky founded a monastery on the highest and largest rock, which is known as Preobrazhensky or Big Meteora. The monastery received its name in honor of the main temple, which was built in 1388. As noted, it was built in the likeness of Athonite temples. The founders of the monastery, the Monks Athanasius and Joseph, are buried inside the temple in its northern limit. Joseph, the last Serbian king, became a monk and did a lot for the monastery: he expanded the Transfiguration Cathedral, decorated it with icons and provided it with the necessary sacred vessels. The cathedral is decorated with magnificent frescoes that were painted in 1522; unfortunately, the name of the master has not reached us. The temple is also famous for its elaborate gilded iconostasis, which was made in 1971. There is a large number of valuable icons from the 14th-16th centuries, and in the former refectory there is a museum of monastery treasures. Among the treasures of the monastery, the following stand out: the oldest Greek manuscript from 861; a double-leaf icon of the Mother of God, contribution of Maria Palaeologus, sister of one of the founders of the monastery; part of the Golden Bull with the signature of Emperor Andronikos Palaiologos; a fully embroidered shroud from the 14th century; four icons of the 16th century: the Nativity of Christ, the Crucifixion of Christ, the Passion of Christ, Our Lady of Sorrows. Not far from the entrance to the monastery there is the monastery of St. Afanasia. It was there that the founder of the monastery lived and prayed.
Until 1922, they climbed the rock in a net, since it was unsafe, steps were cut into the rock. But the net has not yet been forgotten and is used to lift provisions and other items necessary for the life of the monastery.
Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapavsas is probably the most unusual of the Meteorans and stands out due to the peculiarities of its construction. The monastery seems to be huddled on a small rock, this forced the monks to think about the placement of temples and cells so that everything was functional. This is how this magnificent monastery appeared, a labyrinth of several levels that bewitches pilgrims. Presumably, the monastery was founded in the 12th-13th centuries, when the first monks appeared on the rock. It was founded by the monk Nikanor, whose last name was Anapavsas, in whose honor the monastery received its name.
There are 3 levels in total in the monastery. On the first floor there is the Church of St. Antonia. On the altar area of 4 square meters. meters there can only be one clergyman.
On the second level there is the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, the monastery's catholicon was built in 1527. The cathedral is built in the shape of a windowless rectangle and is crowned with a low dome, while the vestibule of the cathedral is so spacious that it seems that it was originally built as a monastery courtyard. The altar is forced to face north. The walls of the cathedral are decorated with frescoes by Theophanes Strelidzas, an outstanding icon painter of the Cretan school. On the third level there are cells, an old refectory used as a reception room for honored visitors, a small church of St. John the Baptist and the crypt with the skulls of monks.
Demetrius of Thessaloniki came from the city of Thessaloniki, where his father was a commander of the Roman proconsul in Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki) and a secret Christian. When his father died, Emperor Maximian appointed him proconsul of the city. His main task was to protect the city. However, Demetrius returned to Thessalonica and, instead of eradicating Christianity, as the emperor commanded, he himself began to confess Christianity to everyone and began to teach the inhabitants of the city the Christian faith. When the emperor found out about this, he immediately wanted to deal with Demetrius. Demetrius, foreseeing this, devoted himself to strict fasting and prayer and asked to distribute all his property to the poor. The emperor entered the city and immediately summoned Demetrius to him. He boldly admitted that he was a Christian and was imprisoned. At night, an Angel came down to him, comforting and strengthening him in his feat. Later in prison he was brutally stabbed to death with spears. Faithful servant of St. Demetrius Lupp collected the blood of the holy great martyr on a towel and moistened his ring in it. With these shrines he began to heal the sick. The body of the martyr Demetrius was thrown to be devoured by wild animals, but the Thessalonica Christians secretly buried him. Under Emperor Constantine, it was erected over the grave, and a hundred years later, during the construction of a new majestic temple, the incorruptible relics of the holy martyr were found. From the 5th century, at the cancer of St. Demetrius, the flow of fragrant myrrh begins, therefore St. Demetrius receives the name Myrrh-Streaming. St. Demetrius became the patron and protector of his native Thessalonica when barbarians approached the city. Repeatedly, the pagan Slavs retreated from the walls of Thessaloniki at the sight of a formidable bright youth walking around the walls.
Saint Gregory Palamas was born in Constantinople into a noble family. His parents tried to teach him from a young age both human and especially Divine wisdom. From an early age, Gregory strove to devote all his strength to serving God. Despite the fact that Gregory was from a rich family, he despised wealth, always wore poor clothes and behaved like a poor man. Some even thought he was crazy. At the age of twenty, he finally decided to take monastic orders and go into the desert. Soon he and his brothers retired to Athos. In 1350 he returned to Thessalonica. In 1354 he was captured by the Turks, but a year later he was released. Over the past three years, St. Gregory performed many miracles and healed many sick people. In 1368, Gregory Palamas was canonized as a saint.
Northwestern Greece
Once upon a time, Igoumenitsa was only a fishing village. During the period of Turkish rule in Greece it was a small town called Grava. In 1913, the town was liberated from the Turks, and in 1938 it adopted its modern name. The city took on its final appearance after World War II.
The island of Corfu is probably one of the most famous Ionian islands of Greece, the island area is 593 km². The island is very picturesque and attracts tourists from all over the world with its small coves and wonderful beaches. The island has an ancient history; mentions of it can be found even in ancient Greek myths. Many peoples also left their mark on it: the Romans and Normans, the Goths and the Venetians, the Turks and the French, the British and the Russians. This could not but affect the culture of the island, rich in monuments and temples. Orthodox Christians have their own shrines on the island.
Residents of the island of Corfu or, as it is also called Kerkyra, know Admiral Fyodor Fedorovich Ushakov well and revere his name. His squadron liberated Kerkyra in 1799. Having knocked out the French from the island, Ushakov restored the Orthodox episcopate on it after almost five centuries of absence of the Orthodox Church on Kerkyra. The admiral also contributed to the creation of the first Greek state in the Ionian Islands after the fall of the Byzantine Empire. In 2002, a monument to Admiral F.F. Ushakov was unveiled in Corfu near the New Fortress.
Cathedral church in the name of the Greek Queen Theodora. The righteous Queen Theodora went down in history as an icon protector. She was the wife of the Greek iconoclast king Theophilus (829 - 842), but did not share her husband’s beliefs and secretly revered holy icons. When her husband died, she ruled the state in place of her young son Mikhail. Theodora did a lot for Orthodoxy. Her merits include the fact that she restored the veneration of icons, returned and ensured that the iconoclasts were cursed. Righteous Theodora did a lot for the Holy Church. She raised a strong devotion to Orthodoxy in her son Mikhail. When Michael grew up, she was removed from management and, after spending 8 years in the monastery of St. Euphrosyne in labors and reading Divine books (the Gospel written by her hand is known), she died peacefully around 867. Her relics were given by the Turks to the residents of the city of Kerkyra in 1460.
Church of St. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky is the most famous religious monument. St. Spyridon was born in Rome in the 3rd century on the island of Cyprus, from childhood he was pious and led a righteous life. Helped the needy, the sick, and children. For his deeds, God rewarded him with the gift of miracles. There are many miracles that St. performed. Spiridon. One day, during the Divine Service, the oil in the lamp burned out, and it began to fade. The saint was upset, but the Lord consoled him: the lamp was miraculously filled with oil. During the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337), he was elected bishop in one of the cities in Cyprus. But even as a bishop, he was able to combine pastoral ministry with works of mercy. Spyridon was a great defender of the faith and fought against heresy. It is known that he took part in the First Ecumenical Council in 325 in Nicaea. After his death, his relics were buried in Constantinople, and when the capital of Byzantium fell to the Turks, the Orthodox leaving the city took them with them. They arrived in Corfu in 1489. It is not known exactly how he was connected with Corfu before becoming a saint. Spyridon, patron saint of the island. But the story remains that he saved the island from the plague in 1553. He later stood up for the island as early as 1630, when Corfu was threatened by famine, and in 1716, when it was attacked by the Turks. He is said to have appeared dressed as a monk, holding a candle, and caused panic among the Turks. The island's patron saint's day is celebrated on December 12 on a grand scale. The first church of St. Spiridona was located in the town of Sarokas, but it had to be destroyed when the city walls were built. The current temple was built in 1590. The temple was built in a style typical of the Ionian islands. Inside are huge gold and silver chandeliers, a marble iconostasis, and unusual-looking icons in gold frames on the vault. Throughout the cathedral and above the shrine with relics, a large number of metal figurines depicting ships, cars and individual body parts hang on chains - the gratitude of the parishioners who received the help of the saint. The temple contains the incorruptible relics of the saint in a silver sarcophagus from the 19th century. Every day hundreds of people come to the temple to venerate this shrine, and these are not only tourists, but also local residents who really love and honor their patron.
Southern Greece (Peloponnese Peninsula)
Patras is a city on the Peloponnese Peninsula. According to Christian history, this is the site of the martyrdom of St. Andrew. Andrew the First-Called spent the last years of his life in Patras, here he preached the faith of Christ, created a large Orthodox community. By order of the proconsul Achaia Egeata, he was sentenced to martyrdom on the cross.
St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called was born in Bethsaida. His teacher was John the Baptist himself. Apostle Andrew and Apostle John the Theologian were the first to follow the Lord. After the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Apostle Andrew by lot went to preach the Word of God to the Black Sea countries, passed through Asia Minor, Macedonia, Chersonesus, and climbed along the Dnieper to the place where Kyiv is now located. The Apostle Andrew performed many deeds in the name of faith; his journey ended in the city of Patras. Here, by the laying on of hands, the First-Called Apostle healed many people, including the wife and brother of the ruler. But the ruler Egeat, becoming embittered, ordered the crucification of St. The Apostle so that he would suffer for a long time - not by nailing his hands and feet to the cross, but by tying them. That cross was not ordinary, but beveled, because the Apostle considered himself unworthy to die on the same cross on which Jesus was crucified. Such a cross has become a symbol of the Orthodox faith and is called “Andreevsky”.
Two days of St. The apostle taught the assembled townspeople from the cross. The people who listened to him had compassion for the martyr and demanded that he be taken down from the cross. Fearing an uprising, the ruler ordered the execution to be stopped.
But the Apostle wanted to accept death in the name of Christ, and the soldiers could not untie the martyr’s hands. Suddenly a bright light illuminated the cross. When it stopped, people saw that St. The apostle had already handed over his soul to the Lord.
Church of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called in Patras was built at the beginning of the twentieth century in the traditions of Western architecture. Its huge dome is visible from afar from the sea, because the temple stands right on the shore of the Gulf of Corinth. In the temple there is the venerable head of St. Apostle Andrew and the cross on which he was crucified. The modern cathedral was built on the very spot where the apostle was executed. Nearby you can see a cave with a spring, which, according to legend, bubbled up at the site of his death.
Also in Patras are the relics of the Apostle Paul.
The Apostle Paul was not one of the twelve apostles. He, who originally bore the Hebrew name Saul, belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. The Apostle Paul was born in the Cilician city of Tarsus. In his youth he participated in the persecution of Christians. One day, Saul was illuminated by a bright light, from which he fell blind to the ground. A voice came from the light: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” To Saul’s question: “Who are you?” - The Lord answered: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Soon after this he became an apostle. Pavel was a very educated and wise man. He created numerous Christian communities in Asia Minor and the Balkan Peninsula. Paul's letters to communities and individuals form a significant part of the New Testament and are among the major texts of Christian theology. The Apostle Paul was distinguished by the fact that he sought to convey the Divine Revelation to the pagans not only adequately, but also convincingly, understandably, and beautifully. He speaks to people in a language they can understand. The sermon that the Apostle Paul preached in Athens in the Areopagus, where all Athenian meetings were held at that time, went down in history. At that time, Athens was not only a center of learning, but a city of idols. There is an opinion that Paul, when he arrived in Athens, was confused by the majesty of this city. However, this did not stop him from making his speech. Although historically it is believed that the majority of Athenians did not change their views, many still believed. Among them were Dionysius the Areopagite and many others.
The Mega Spilio Monastery or Great Cave is located at an altitude of 924 meters near the town of Kalavryta. There is an icon of the Virgin Mary, created from wax and aromatic substances by the Evangelist Luke. Evangelist Luke was born into a Greek family and was very educated; he was a doctor by profession. The author of one of the four Gospels, he created the Acts of the Apostles, was sent by the Lord to preach about the kingdom of heaven. It is believed that it was he who painted the first icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary. However, the wax icon that is located in Mega Spilio is unique. It was thanks to her that the monastery arose. It was created in 362 around the cave where she was found. The monastery building has 8 floors, and you get the feeling that it is built into the rock. The monastery was destroyed many times and there were fires, but the icon has survived to this day. The walls of the monastery church are covered with frescoes. Handwritten Gospels and surplices are also kept here.
Central Greece
The holy relics of the martyr Gregory and the Cathedral of the Annunciation. The future Patriarch of Constantinople Gregory was born into a poor family and was named George. He studied on the island of Patmos. Soon he became a monk with the name Gregory. His ascetic lifestyle and great knowledge of secular and theological sciences made him famous to Metropolitan Procopius of Smyrna. He was ordained a deacon, then a presbyter, and in 1785 he was consecrated bishop and became the successor of Metropolitan Procopius. In 1792 St. Gregory was elected Patriarch of Constantinople.
The saint did a lot for his flock. Despite the fact that the Turks prevented the spread and preservation of Christianity in Greece, Saint Gregory repaired old and built new Orthodox churches and called on the people not to betray the Christian faith.
It is not surprising that the Turkish ruler did not like all this. After his third return to the patriarchate, when the massacre of Christians by the Turks began, the patriarch was taken and, after much torture, hanged in 1821.
The Turks forbade burying the body of the holy martyr. It was given to the Jews, who, tying stones to the saint's neck, threw him into the sea.
Body of St. Gregory, miraculously freed from the stone, was found by Greek sailors and transported to Odessa, where he was buried in the Trinity Church in the northern part of the altar. In 1871, the holy relics of Patriarch Gregory were transferred from Odessa to Athens and placed in the Cathedral of the Annunciation. The temple was built in the 19th century and was consecrated in 1862. Construction proceeded slowly, architects were replaced by one another, so its architecture cannot be called unambiguous. It is believed to be built in the "Helleno-Byzantine tradition", however some believe that it is not as beautiful as real Byzantine temples.
Islands of the Aegean Sea
The island of Euboea has an unusual feature: it is connected to the mainland by a 14-meter bridge, as it is very close to the mainland. It is the second largest island in Greece after Crete. The bridge is not the most important feature of the island; the water underneath it in the Euripus Strait is much more interesting: it either rushes at breakneck speed, then practically freezes, and after a few hours it picks up speed again, but, surprisingly, moves in the other direction.
The island is a favorite vacation spot of the Greeks themselves; it is especially popular among Athenians, because it is only 88 kilometers from Athens. But there are few tourists here, which makes the island even more attractive with its hot springs, beautiful beaches, green forests and beautiful mountains.
The Temple of Righteous John the Russian, one of the most revered saints in Greece, is located on the island of Euboea in the town of Neoprokopion, where his relics are also located. This saint lived an amazing, grace-filled, but at the same time full of torment life. He was born in the 17th century in Little Russia and entered the service of Peter I. He fought a lot and wandered around the world a lot, but he was always full of humility and firmly professed the Holy Faith. Many miracles are attributed to him. During the war, the saint was captured by the Turks and was sent into slavery in Asia Minor, where he suffered for a long time.
Monastery of St. David of Euboea is located near the church of St. John the Russian. Funds for the construction of the monastery of St. David, who lived in the 16th century, collected in what is now Romania, Moldova and Russia. The most valuable of these gifts are still kept in the monastery. The monastery houses the relics of its founder, the Venerable David of Euboea, as well as the Venerable Head of St. Basil the Great. The great saint of God and God-wise teacher of the Church, Vasily, was born in the city of Caesarea in 330. He was not only a pious believer, but also an educated man who knew secular sciences. His father was in charge of his education. Vasily traveled a lot in search of new knowledge; he was in Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia. However, he felt that the main thing for him was not worldly sciences, but service to the Lord. Therefore, he went to Egypt, where monastic life flourished. When Basil the Great returned to Athens, he did a lot to establish the True Faith and converted many to it.
Elder Jacob of Euboea lived a pious, but very difficult life full of bodily suffering. He was born on November 5, 1920 into a devout family that was closely associated with the Church. As a child, Jacob and his family had to leave their homeland Libya due to oppression by the Turks. By the will of God he was destined to end up on the island of Euboea. There he went to school and there he began to lead a righteous and ascetic life. Even as a child, his favorite toy was a censer, which he made himself. All the neighbors were proud of him and saw in him a real man of God. Soon he was entrusted with the keys to the temple: the village did not have its own priest, he came from a neighboring village once every two weeks. Residents of neighboring villages, when they had any difficulties, turned to him for help. Jacob was called to anoint with oil and say prayers over the sick, women who were having difficult births, over the possessed, and for other needs. Jacob could not continue to study at school, as he was forced to work to help his family.
His path to monasticism was long. First he lost his parents and was forced to take care of his sister, then he had to do his duty to his country and served in the army. After his return, he took on any job to collect a dowry for his sister Anastasia. It was only when she got married that he felt ready to become a monk. He began to think about returning to the Holy Land. One day St. appeared to him. David said that Jacob’s destiny was to revive the monastery that he once founded here. His tonsure took place on November 30, 1952. And he devoted his entire life to serving God and restoring the monastery. When she approached fifty, he began to be overcome by illnesses that had tormented him since childhood. However, what bothered him most was his heart. He was sick for a long time. Having restored the monastery of St. David, who chose the elder as his spiritual heir, bringing healing and peace to thousands of suffering souls, Father Jacob passed away on November 21, 1991. His cell and many personal belongings have been preserved in the monastery, which contain information about the life of this holy man.
Orthodox Holy Places of Greece. Pilgrimage tours, churches, monuments and religious sites in Greece.
- Last minute tours to Greece
- Tours for the New Year Worldwide
The basis on which both the church and society itself live is tradition. Much in our life is subject to traditions: a person is baptized, gets married, goes through a certain growing up, receives upbringing and education. And, despite difficult periods in the lives of people and society as a whole, traditions continue to be observed. What does the word tradition even mean? It's very simple. Tradition is historically established and passed on from generation to generation forms of activity and behavior, as well as accompanying customs, rules and values. This is the basis of any journey, which is carried out by pilgrimage services and travel companies for religious tours.
Greece has always been not only the custodian of ancient culture, but also a stronghold of Orthodoxy. About 98% of the country's population are Orthodox Christians.
From time immemorial, pilgrimage to holy places has been one of the most revered and important traditions of our people. Even in ancient times, many people went on long journeys to venerate particularly significant Orthodox shrines. For what? To receive a blessing or just to see family and friends living in the monastery. That is, pilgrimage journeys were not just an abstract tradition, but an important part of the life of Orthodox people. We want to dedicate the current material to pilgrimage trips to Greece, and not without reason: many spiritual traditions still connect us with this country.
Greece has always been not only the custodian of ancient culture, but also a stronghold of Orthodoxy. About 98% of the country's population are Orthodox Christians. There are many places in the country that are holy for Orthodox pilgrims. In addition, it is Greece that is the country where the first Orthodox churches began to be built and from where the Orthodox faith began to spread, including to our land. Now, after many centuries, Russian pilgrims, traveling through modern Greek soil, are surprised to discover how closely intertwined the paths of our peoples still remain. Let us dwell in more detail on those places that Orthodox pilgrims in Greece primarily seek to visit.
Almost no trip around the country is complete without visiting Athens - the personification of Greece. There are the ancient Byzantine church of St. George on Mount Lycabettos, as well as the famous Areopagus hill: it was from this place that the Apostle Paul preached his first sermon.
Just 14 km from the city of Loutraki, at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level, rises the majestic active convent of Blessed Potapius, built in honor of St. Potapius, who dedicated his life to serving God. About 40 nuns now live in his monastery cells.
Corinth is an ancient city whose history begins before the birth of Christ. In this city, the Apostle Paul preached the word of God from an oratorical pedestal, which has survived to this day. Here, pilgrims usually first visit the Cathedral of the Apostle Paul and the exceptionally beautiful Daphne Monastery.
On the way from Corinth to Kalavryta there is the monastery of Mega Spileon, one of the most ancient monasteries in Greece. The monastery is famous largely due to its miraculous icon of the Mother of God, created, according to legend, by Apostle Luke from wax. It is surprising that despite the huge number of fires and destruction that the monastery suffered, this icon has survived to this day. And very close to the town of Kalavryta is the Holy Dormition Lavra. The main shrine of this monastery is the venerable head of St. Alexia, donated to the monastery during its heyday by Emperor Emmanuel Palaiologos.
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In the town of Aigio, not far from Patras, one of the most revered shrines in Greece is kept - the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Tripiti. A temple was built next to the cave in which the icon is kept. In the city of Patras itself, in the Cathedral of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, the honorable head of the Apostle Andrew and the cross on which, according to legend, he was crucified, are kept. Since ancient times, Apostle Andrew has been considered the patron saint of the city, and City Day is traditionally celebrated on December 13, the day of remembrance of the saint. In addition, the cathedral is the cathedral church of the Metropolitan of Patras, one of the most authoritative and respected hierarchs of the Greek Church.
Speaking about the Christian shrines of Greece, one cannot fail to mention Meteora and the Meteora monasteries, which, justifying their name (“meteo” in Greek - air), seem to have frozen between heaven and earth. Monks chose these secluded places for prayer back in the 13th and 14th centuries, and the first of the monasteries was founded by a native of Athos, a faithful disciple of the hesychast fathers, Reverend Athanasius.
The relics of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki are kept in Thessaloniki: “The Canon of Demetrius of Thessaloniki” was the first composition in the Slavic language of the saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius after they created the Slavic alphabet. Many of the very first monasteries in Kyiv, Vladimir and Moscow were founded in honor of this particular saint. In addition, the city preserves places associated with the preaching of the Apostle Paul when he visited Thessaloniki during his missionary travels.
On the island of Corfu, pilgrims visit the site of the victory of the Russian fleet over the French under the command of Admiral Theodore Ushakov, canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. The relics of St. Spyridon of Trimythous also rest there.
On the island of Evia, travelers venerate the relics of our compatriot, the righteous John the Russian - a Christian who was taken into Turkish captivity and became famous in a Muslim foreign land for his holy earthly life and many miracles after death.
The island of Patmos is certainly known to every Orthodox Christian. It is there that the Cave of the Apocalypse is located, in which the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian heard the Voice of God, and it was there that the Apostle wrote the Book of Revelation.
And, of course, one cannot fail to mention Holy Athos - the only Orthodox monastic republic in the world with a thousand-year history and an exclusively male population. It occupies the territory of the third “finger” of the Halkidiki peninsula. Today there are 20 monasteries on Holy Athos, including one Russian, one Bulgarian and one Serbian. At the time of its glory, Holy Athos was home to 180 Orthodox monasteries.
We would like to thank the Radonezh Pilgrimage Service for their assistance in preparing the material.
12 places in Orthodox Greece that every Christian will want to see!
1. Athos
Holy Mount Athos, located on the Chalkidiki peninsula, is one of the most revered holy places by Orthodox Christians around the world and the only monastic republic in the world. On Athos, in every monastery, in every monastery, many miraculous icons and relics of the greatest Orthodox saints are kept, but only men can visit this place; according to tradition, women are not allowed on the Holy Mountain, so as not to violate the ascetic strictness of its monasteries.
2. Suroti
The Monastery of St. John the Theologian in Suroti is called “Women’s Mount Athos”. Here the nuns live according to the strictest rules, close to those existing on the Holy Mountain: they labor in silence, solitude and unceasing prayer. Most days of the year the monastery is closed to visitors. However, thousands of pilgrims still come here every year to visit the grave of the founder of this holy monastery - the Venerable Elder Paisius the Holy Mountain, who is widely revered not only in Greece, but throughout the Orthodox world.
3. Thessaloniki
This large Greek city has several important places for an Orthodox pilgrim. Firstly, this is the basilica of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica, who from the first years of the baptism of Rus' was especially revered in our country as the patron saint of the army. According to the life, after the execution by the pagans, the body of the warrior Demetrius was thrown to be devoured by beasts, but they did not touch him, and the remains were buried by Christians. The basilica, built on the site of his burial, is one of the main Christian shrines in Greece. Another important place in Thessaloniki is the Metropolitan Cathedral, where the shrine with the relics of St. Gregory Palamas, one of the greatest Fathers of the Church, is kept.
4. Corfu
The capital of the island of Corfu, the city of Kerkyra, according to legend, is under the heavenly protection of St. Spyridon of Trimythous, whose relics are kept in the main temple of the city. The entire life of the saint amazes with its amazing simplicity and power of miracles: at his word the dead were awakened, the elements were tamed, idols were crushed. In the north of the island of Corfu, high on the mountain there is the monastery of Pantocrator - “Almighty”. On the day of its patronal feast, this convent becomes the center of the entire island; thousands of pilgrims come here every year. The monastery contains particles of the relics of the righteous Anna, the Great Martyr Euphemia, St. Arsenios of Kerkyra, the Apostles Jason and Sosipater and the Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer.
5. Meteors
“Hovering in the air” - this is translated from Greek Μετέωρα. Built in incredible conditions, with no access roads, monastery buildings on steep cliffs have been preserved here since the 14th century. Monastic churches rise almost 400 meters above the valley of the Pineos River and the Thessalian plain, as a symbol of the soaring of monastic life above worldly passions. Today, only four of the Meteor monasteries are active - St. Stephen, Holy Trinity, St. Varlaam and Transfiguration of the Lord.
6. Sparta
We associate this city mainly with ancient history, but it also played a role in the history of Christianity. Christian refugees flocked here to the Gol Monastery during the Ottoman raids, seeking shelter in the mountains, so these places are filled with a special love for preserving the traditions of the faith. The monastery also houses one of the most famous Orthodox shrines in Greece - the icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring”. The appearance of this image is associated with the miraculous healing of a blind warrior that occurred in the middle of the 5th century at a spring near Constantinople.
7. Crete
Crete is the largest Greek island, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Christianity came here in the first century, through the works of a disciple of the Apostle Paul named Titus. He founded nine dioceses on Crete and died at a very old age. After the devastation of the island by the Saracens in the 9th century, only one Honest Chapter remained from the relics of the Apostle Titus - the main shrine of Crete. It was returned to the island from Venice only 50 years ago, and is kept in the main Apostolic Cathedral. During its history, this cathedral and shrine passed many times from Orthodox to Catholics and Muslims, suffered from fires and raids, but many shrines were carefully preserved by Christians and are now open for worship. The most important shrine of the island is the monastery of Panagia Paliani. It is known throughout the world thanks to the wonderful tree and the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Panagia Faneromeni. Praying to this face, over time, believers began to notice that the tree depicted on the icon began to sprout and take on roots, and the image began to disappear in its branches. The ancient myrtle tree, in the branches of which only children can see the face of the Most Holy Theotokos, still grows at the monastery.
8. Patras
Countless churches are dedicated to Apostle Andrew the First-Called. But the most significant among them, without a doubt, is the white marble cathedral in the Greek city of Patras. In this city the Saint spent the last years of his life and performed miracles that brought many people to the church. Here he accepted martyrdom for Christ, suffering crucifixion on a special cross, which later began to be called by his name, St. Andrew’s. This is the largest and one of the most revered temples in Greece. It was erected on the supposed site of the crucifixion of the Apostle, and preserves the great shrines of the Christian world: the Honest Head of St. Andrew and the remains of the cross on which he was crucified. A holy spring has been flowing near the temple since the day of the Apostle’s crucifixion.
9. Athens
Few people know, but the history of one of the most famous symbols of Greece - the Parthenon of Athens - is closely connected with Orthodoxy. For most of its history, it was not used for pagan rituals, as we are accustomed to perceiving it from history textbooks, but was a Christian temple. In the 5th century, the Parthenon became the Orthodox Church of the Holy Wisdom, and was later renamed in honor of the Mother of God. The Parthenon kept many treasures of the Church: the relics of St. Macarius the Great and the Gospel, personally rewritten by the Holy Queen Helena. In the 13th century, Athens came under Catholic rule and the Parthenon was converted into Notre Dame d'Atain. As a reminder of liturgical life in the Parthenon, a fragment of the fresco of the Annunciation can still be seen on the upper part of one of the internal walls.
10. Rhodes
Filerimos Monastery is notable not only for its history, but also for its stunning panoramic views of the island. In order to get to the monastery, the pilgrim must walk up the mountain along a road called the “Road to Golgotha” and equal to the length of the path of Jesus Christ to the site of the crucifixion. Thousands of women from all over the world come to the Monastery of Our Lady of Tsambiki every year in the hope of experiencing the joy of motherhood. The icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, kept here, is known for the fact that for centuries it has patronized all families who flock to it, and through prayers before it, women are delivered from infertility.
11. Patmos
For believers, this small island is a whole spiritual universe, because it was here, in the Apocalypse cave, that the Revelation of God appeared to the holy Apostle John the Theologian. Locals call the island the younger brother of the monastic republic of Athos: on the small area of the island there are more than 50 churches and monasteries. The pilgrimage to Patmos has become an entire industry, annually welcoming millions of Christians from all over the planet. But not every guide will tell you that the very cave where the Apostle of Love dictated his Revelation to his disciple Prochorus is not located in the large monastery of St. John the Theologian, but on a hillside halfway from the village of Chora to the port of Skala, in a tiny monastery in honor of the Revelation .
12. Tinos
The Tinos Icon of the Mother of God miraculously appeared at a difficult time, when the bloody struggle for liberation from the Ottomans continued in Greece in the 19th century. The Greeks especially revered this image, calling it Megalohari - Great Joy. The icon was found from underground, according to a vision given by the Mother of God herself to the modest nun Pelagia: the image lay under oppression for about 800 years, but retained its appearance and colors. This image is especially revered by the Greeks themselves: from generation to generation they pass on testimonies of the intercession of the Mother of God, and through prayers before this icon thousands of miracles occurred. According to the custom here, people rise on their knees to worship this miraculous image. For this purpose, a narrow carpet path has been laid out from the port itself to the temple, along which a line of pilgrims stretches every day.
Today we will leave the restless Thessaloniki and go around the surrounding area. In addition, Grekoblog specifically focuses on the subtleties of behavior in local temples, which you will almost certainly encounter when visiting Holy Places not only in Northern Greece, but throughout Hellas.
The first place we would like to go to today is located near Thessaloniki - in the town of Suroti. Here is located Convent of St. John the Evangelist. Pilgrims from many countries flock here to venerate the grave of Elder Paisius the Holy Mountain, who died in 1994 and has not yet been canonized. Despite this, believers come to his grave with deep gratitude in their souls for the consolation, enlightenment and love that they received from the elder. This is largely the merit of the nuns of the monastery, who wrote down the words of the elder in a kind of stories or sermons, simple and accessible, which over time accumulated into several books, published and translated, including into Russian.
Finding a monastery without a map or navigator is not very easy, but once you find it, you don’t want to leave here. Extraordinarily well-groomed, spacious, but modest, its neat appearance, pleasing to the eye, is due to the efforts of the nuns living in it. Here and there you will see elegant flower beds, and the overall mountain landscape is ideally complemented by the traditional post-Byzantine monastic architecture of Greece. There are always treats on display for guests in the courtyard: Turkish delight and clean water from the holy spring.
The Monastery of St. John the Evangelist is located near Thessaloniki in the town of Suroti
This place combines friendliness and silence, cordiality and privacy in the most amazing way.
Not far from the monastery of St. John the Theologian, in the mountains of Chortiatis, more than a thousand years ago, it was founded Monastery of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker, which still functions today as a functioning monastery, where the relics of St. Anastasia herself are kept. It is completely different from the welcoming and well-groomed Monastery of St. John the Theologian, but it fascinates with its special, slightly harsh and very ancient atmosphere, telling about the thousand-year history of the monastery. From its walls, as hundreds of years ago, a view opens onto the Macedonian valley, even now almost untouched by civilization.
For those who have one more day left, it will be unforgettable, to the ancient Monastery of St. Dionysius(XVI century). The monastery is hidden in the mountains on the slopes of the gorge and it is not easy to find it even in our time, and before, until the road was built, it was almost impossible: during the period of the Turkish yoke, the monks, seeking peace and security, went far away from the Muslims into the mountains. The monastery was blown up by the occupiers during the Second World War, and restoration work is still underway, but the temple itself and the refectory are already open to the public. Before founding the monastery, St. Dionysius lived as a hermit in one of the caves of Mount Olympus, where he died in 1541. A path leads from the monastery to a cave, where a miniature church is now located - a place of constant pilgrimage for Christians. A hike to the cave along a mountain path for people not accustomed to physical activity can be regarded as a small feat of faith... the journey takes about half an hour one way.
The Monastery of St. Dionysius on Olympus is very difficult to find
The relics of Saint Dionysius were transferred to the monastery he founded, where they now rest, in the left vestibule of the temple.
In the courtyard of the temple you will find a consecrated mountain spring with cold drinking water, which gives pilgrims new strength both in hot and cold weather...
Our last goal is the Tembi gorge with a small rock temple of St. Paraskeva. When driving through Tembi, be careful not to miss the only parking lot in the town of Agia Paraskevi, from which you can cross the suspension bridge to the other side of the gorge to the temple. According to Tradition, it was in this gorge that Saint Paraskeva of Rome, a Christian martyr of the 2nd century, considered a healer of eye ailments, was arrested. Here, at the beginning of the 20th century, during the construction of the railway, an icon of the saint was miraculously found. Those seeking healing, as well as all believers who came to venerate Saint Paraskeva, go to venerate the source. To do this, they need to literally go inside the rock along a short but narrow passage. Only two people can pass there, so it is better to quietly and patiently follow the line.
If you have not been to Greece before and are preparing to go on a tour of the Holy Places, then it will be useful for you to familiarize yourself with some features of the Greek Orthodox traditions:
- Candles in Greek temples are freely available in candle boxes. You can take the required amount and throw a coin of the corresponding value into a special slot. If you don’t have small change in local currency with you, this is no reason not to light a candle: no problem, if possible, fill it up at the next church.
- When entering the church, gypsies may persuade you to buy candles from them. They, in turn, take them in batches from the candle boxes - do, of course, as your conscience tells you, but keep in mind that the church will definitely not see this money.
- Women can enter the Greek Orthodox Church bareheaded and wearing trousers, as long as their shoulders and knees are covered. When entering the monastery, the rules are stricter: therefore, at the door, as a rule, long skirts and shoulder scarves are laid out for visitors. It is also not advisable for men wearing shorts above the knee, but, unfortunately, there are no supplies of long trousers for them.
- You are allowed to take as many photographs as you like outside the temple, but inside in 90% of cases you will be asked to hide your camera - please be understanding about this. Openly photographing monks is also not entirely ethical.
- Greek Orthodox churches, unlike Russian ones, almost always have dense rows of chairs separated in the middle by a passage. Women sit on the left, men sit on the right. But all parishioners listen to certain parts of the service while standing.
- Almost every monastery and many churches have a small source of blessed water, which you can drink without hesitation and, if desired, pour into a bottle to take with you.
- Most Greeks, young and old, cross themselves whenever they see a church. When using local public transport, do not be alarmed if half the bus suddenly begins to make the sign of the cross - this is not related to any incident on the road, you are simply passing by a temple.
- Almost every temple has a small annex, a kind of chapel with a holy image and a candle box; even if you are in a hurry, lightly dressed and don’t have time to go to church, you can always look into such a chapel along the way, light a candle and read a short prayer.
- Before you go to the monastery, find out about its operating hours.
