Ministry of Interior

(Macedonia Thrace sector)

Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Directorate of International Relations and Regional Development

Pilgrimages of Orthodoxy
Version 2.00
The Great and Angelic Figure
The tourist guide is dedicated to Saint Constantine,
the first Christian Emperor.
1.CENTRAL MACEDONIA In this stadium, the faithful
REGION disciple of Saint Demetrius,
Thessaloniki Prefecture Nestor, fought a duel and
Church of Saint Demetrius of defeated Lyaeus. The entire
Myrovlytis ground floor complex of the
ancient bath, where the Saint
Agiou Demetriou 83, Postal was imprisoned, was preserved
Code 54633 Thessaloniki and converted into a crypt of
Tel.: 2310270008 the temple, which became for
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1X2ZGF centuries and remains a center
dVSsgu9RKq7 of worship.

The Church was built in the

middle of the 5th century
(413), on the site of the
martyrdom of the Saint, by the
prefect of Illyricum Leontius,
who was cured of an incurable
disease.
The great fire of 1917 almost
turned the historic Temple into
ruins and the restoration work
that restored it to its original
form lasted until 1948.
Since then, it has been
operating normally and is one
of the most magnificent
Christian monuments as a
In this area was the "stadium"
monument of art.
where gladiatorial contests
Demetrius was born around
were held.
280 in Thessaloniki, during the
reign of Emperor Maximian,
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

and came from an aristocratic to renounce his faith,
family. At a young age, he Demetrius replied:
joined the Roman army and "I believe only in Christ."
reached the rank of centurion, Maximian, enraged by the
at the age of just 22. A studious courageous stance of his
and inquisitive nature, he officer, ordered him to be
sought the sublime and the imprisoned.
true and found it in the Meanwhile, one of Demetrius'
Christian faith, of which he disciples, Nestor, appeared at
became a renowned preacher the stadium of Thessaloniki,
in Thessaloniki. where Maximian was
organizing athletic
competitions, and asked to
compete on behalf of the
Christians with the ferocious
and invincible wrestler Lyaeus,
a pagan native of Sirmium in
Pannonia (present-day
Mitrovica in Serbia).

Believing that he had the grace

and help of God, Nestor
entered the arena and not only
He formed a circle of young
defeated Lyaeus, but killed him,
students and taught them the
like David killed Goliath in the
Holy Bible in the underground
Old Testament.
galleries near the city's public
baths. During one such
Enraged by the defeat of his
gathering, the pagans arrested
chosen one, Maximilian
him and brought him before
ordered Nestor to be beheaded
the emperor Maximian, who
and Demetrius to be killed with
was residing in Thessaloniki.
spears. Demetrius was buried
When the emperor asked him
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

at the site of his martyrdom, 2. HOLY CHURCH OF HOLY
where a prominent church was KSΕΝΕ AGIOS NEKTARIOS,
later built in his honor. Myrrh METROPOLITAN OF
gushes from his tomb, hence PENTAPOLEOS
the name Myrovlitis.
His memory is celebrated on 127 Papanastasiou St., 54250
October 26th every year with Thessaloniki
particular splendor for the city Tel.: 2310300448
of Thessaloniki but also https://maps.app.goo.gl/KApz5uEj
throughout the country where C7o75E188
there is a church in his honor.

Holy Xeni, refusing the pressure

of her parents to marry a man
of their choice, secretly fled to
Alexandria where she was
renamed Xeni so that her traces
would be lost. She went to the
island of Kos and then settled in
Mylasa in Caria. There, together
with her two maids
(therapaenides) who had
remained faithful to her, she
built a church in the name of
the holy protomartyr Stephen
and hesychast cells.
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Very quickly, her fame and the 3. CHURCH OF SAINT
virtuous and ascetic life she led POLYCARPUS Menemeni
brought young girls who desired ThessalonikiAgamemnon &
a life of asceticism and prayer to Monastiriou Menemeni PC
her, while the monastery 54628 Thessaloniki
became a famous spiritual
center, where many suffering Tel: 2310611128mobile
women flocked daily to receive 693736369 Father Stylianos
advice and ask for the prayers of
the saint. Her holiness was also https://maps.app.goo.gl/o7MB1k
recognized during the burial of nrSZZrHqvMA
her sacred body, when a cross
formed by stars appeared in the
sky.

One of the few Churches in the

entire country that honors
Saint Polycarpos, Archbishop of
Smyrna.

Saint Polycarpos was born

around 80 AD to pious and
God-loving parents, Pangratios
and Theodora, who had been
The holy Xene imprisoned for their faith in

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Christ, and was baptized a Saint Polycarp, pressured by
Christian at a young age. the Christians, departed to a
farm.

Finally, the Saint was arrested

His original name was in the year 167 AD by betrayal
Pangratios but because of the of children who were playing
excessive alms that Pangratios outside the farm where he was
gave to his suffering brothers, hiding and showed the soldiers
his nurse named him with their eyes the house
Polycarpus. where the Saint was.

He was led before the anti-

hipot while the old Bishop was
not moved. His face was
peaceful and radiant.

The Saint with spiritual courage

kept his faith to the end while
remaining unharmed by the
fire in a bronze ox that was
placed to be burned alive. The
fire formed an arch around the
body of Saint Polycarp without
He was the most genuine touching him. Then a soldier-
representative of the apostolic executioner finished off the
teaching in all the Churches of Holy Martyr with a sword. Then
Asia.The apostolic activity of the Holy Relic was thrown into
Saint Polycarp provoked the the fire, and the faithful
wrath of the pagans who collected his holy relics.
sought the Saint in order to
imprison him.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

 4. HOLY CHURCH OF THE
ENTRANCES OF THE MOTHER
OF GOD Panagia Dexias

Nea Egnatia 123, P.C.

54636 ThessalonikiTel.:
2310212026

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yGEoD
uex7QaHcd6A8

In the Holy Church is kept the

holy relic of Saint Polycarp the
miracle worker.

He is celebrated on February 23
of each year.

The miraculous icon of Panagia

Dexias in the center of the
University Campus of
Thessaloniki

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

The church was founded in
1956 on the site of the
Byzantine church of Agios
Hypatios.
In the church of Agios
Hypatios, the
miraculous icon of the Virgin
Mary of Eleousia was offered, a
faithful copy of the
homonymous icon of Kykkos in
Cyprus, which tradition wants
to have been narrated
(illustrated) by the Evangelist
Luke.
The name "Right" is due to the
fact that the Virgin Mary is
depicted holding Jesus in her In the right aisle of the church
right hand, while the most there is the miraculous icon of
common iconography is that Saint Hypatius.
she holds the Divine Infant in Saint Hypatius is celebrated on
her left hand. March 31 of each year.
The church celebrates the Saint Hypatius was a figure
Assumption of the Virgin Mary who glorified the Church in its
on November 21 of each year. first centuries and fought for
the triumph of Christianity and
Orthodoxy.

He was bishop of Gangra in the

years of Constantine the Great
and participated in the First
Ecumenical Council in Nicaea
(325 AD), against the error of
Arius. In his pastoral work, he
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

continued to teach and guide 5. CHURCH OF THE SUBJECT OF
his flock, but mainly he fought THE SAVIOR
against heresies, and especially Chapel of Saint Michael of
the heresy of the Nauthians. Mavroudis

Egnatia 148, P.C

54621Thessaloniki
Tel.:2310278514
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nDJ4U1N
ueRnto1FU9

The success with which he

fought against the Nauthians
aroused their wild passions and
they sought his extermination.
Thus, in the year 326 AD, they
paid some pagans, who in a
steep area attacked the Saint
with sticks and stones and left
him half-dead.
Before he died, one of the
fanatical heretic women
stoned him to death.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

It is the place of execution of When he tried to catechize a
the New Martyr Michael of young Turk in the Christian
Mavroudis, the baker. faith, he denounced him and
Michael was forcibly led to the
Saint Michael of Mavroudis tribunal.During the
came from the village of interrogation, where he
Granitsa, Agrafon. His parents answered the judge’s questions
were the pious Demetrios and with frankness and deep
the virtuous Statira, who raised theological knowledge, he tried
Michael “in the education and to convert his judges as well.
admonition of the Lord”. After With emotion and courage, he
the death of his father, he left emphasized to the judge:
for Thessaloniki where he
practiced the profession of “Do not waste time, but deliver
baker, distributing all his me to God one hour earlier,
money to his poor and weak because I want and love to be a
brothers. sacrifice to my Lord, to be
baked like sweet bread, to be
placed on the Table of the Holy
Trinity and to be offered as
fragrant incense to Him.”

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

 6. HOLY CHURCH OF AGIOS
MENAS OF THE EGYPTIAN
10 Ionos Dragoumi, P.C.54624
Thessaloniki Tel.: 2310272700
https://maps.app.goo.gl/81S3JDsF
VWBeetjW7

He was eventually sentenced The Church is dedicated to

to death and burned alive in Saint Minas the Egyptian Victor
Thessaloniki on 21 March 1547 the Brave and Vincent the
AD, Thursday at nine o'clock, in Divine. It is the first metropolis
the courtyard of the Church of of Thessaloniki where the first
the Assumption of the Savior. doxology was performed upon
Saint Michael the Mavroudis is the liberation of the city from
celebrated on Maundy the Turks in 1912. It is a
Thursday. historical church with the
intense grace of Saint Minas
the Wonderworker and Saint
Christodoulos of Kassandrino

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

who was martyred at the
entrance of the church of Saint
Minas.

The neomartyr Christodoulos

was born in the 18th century in
the village of Valta in Kassandra,
Chalkidiki. At a young age he
came to Thessaloniki, where he
worked as a tailor.

When he was informed that a

Saint Minas the Great Martyr certain Bulgarian Christian was
You call him a great martyr preparing to deny Christ, he
because with his life and his procured a small cross and went
martyrdom he attracted to the cafe, where the
hundreds of pagans to the true circumcision of the Christ-
faith denier was to take place. He
crossed the crowd of
Janissaries, and while the
drums were beating, he
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

approached the Christ-denier, relic for 600 groschen and
presented the cross and said to buried it with honors.
him: "Brother, what have you
suffered? Here is our faith, here
is Christ, who was crucified for
our love. Why do you leave
Christ your Savior and become a
Turk?"

The enraged Turks rushed and

arrested Christodoulos and,
with blows, led him to the
judge, where they demanded
his death. When the judge
urged him to deny Christ, the
Martyr courageously replied:
"... and you leave
Mohammedanism and become
a Christian."

Thus demonstrating his

unwavering faith, he was
handed over to the
executioners, who hung him at
the entrance to the church of
Saint Minas in Thessaloniki. His memory is honored every
year on July 28.
The saint's relic, with the cross
nailed to his back, remained
hanging naked for two days.
Then the Christians bought his

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

7. CHURCH OF PANAGIA unscrupulous intentions of a
LAODIGITRIA - Neomartyr Turk. For reasons unknown to
Alexander Dervisis us, in this city he renounced his
faith and converted to Islam.
30 Ioulianou, P. C. 54634 Later, he visited Mecca and
Thessaloniki Tel.: 2310210159
entered the Order of
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gsU7E4KjVu
Dervishes.
VfW4G28

The chapel is dedicated to the

However, controlled by his
Holy Neomartyr Alexander the
conscience, he pretended to be
Dervish
crazy and, under the guise of a
Dervish, he toured for 18 years
Saint Alexander was from
in enslaved countries, severely
Thessaloniki and lived in the
controlling the Turkish tyranny.
area of Laodigia or Lagodiani
Whenever he was given the
(today's Laodigitria). At a young
opportunity to manifest his
age, he arrived in Smyrna,
faith in Christ, he did so by
trying to avoid the
performing good deeds.
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

While in Chios, he fearlessly fortitude his martyr's death by
attended the holy services of beheading, on May 26, 1794,
Great Lent in a Christian thus becoming a resident of
Church, still wearing the the upper Jerusalem and a
clothes of a Dervish. sharer of heavenly glory.

From Chios, he went to Smyrna

and presented himself to the
judge of the city, to whom he
confessed with courage that he
had repented of his previous
state and was now returning to
Christianity. In front of him, he
took off and trampled on the
clothes of a Dervish. They
immediately threw him into
prison, from which they
released him three times,
trying with flattery and threats
to bend his mind and his faith.

However, Alexander remained

unyielding and firm in his
decision to bear witness to his
holy faith. When he arrived at
the place of execution, he
prayed on his knees and
unperturbed in front of the
numerous and furious crowd of
Turks, Greeks, Franks and
Armenians. Full of joy and 8. CHURCH OF AGIOS
courage, he endured with GREGORIOS PALAMA
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Ag.Sofias 6, Postal Code 54623 elements from the Byzantine
Thessaloniki Tel.:2310271520 tradition of the city.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FkZrWDc
EZqRfMuCa6

The church of Saint Gregory

Palamas, the metropolis of
Thessaloniki, was built in 1891- In a special chapel inside the
1914. The basic architectural church, the saint's relics are
design was made by Ernestos kept in a precious larnax with
Ziller, but it was completed with relief representations.
changes by the architect
Xenophon Paionides. It is the
first church of the Ottoman rule
with a dome in Thessaloniki and
is a representative example of
architectural eclecticism with

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

 We do not know the exact time
and place of his birth. S.
Efstratiadis, in his hagiology,
states that Saint Gregory was
born in 1296 AD in
Constantinople, to Constantine
the Senator and the pious
Kalloni. We do know, however,
that during the first half of the
14th century AD he was at the
imperial court of
Constantinople, from where he
withdrew to Mount Athos for a
quieter life, and dedicated
himself to his moral perfection
and various studies.
In 1335 AD, with his two
evidentiary speeches "On the
Descent of the Holy Spirit", he
came into conflict with the
heretic Barlaam and all the
Latins.
He is the father of the noetic
heart prayer “Most Holy
Theotokos, Save Us” and the
prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son
of God, have mercy on me”.
Gregory wrote many and
various theological works,
Saint Gregory Palamas was a approximately 60.
keen theologian, an eminent He was elected bishop of
orator, philosopher and writer. Thessaloniki while he also

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

served as abbot of the Holy 9. HOLY MONASTERY OF SAINT
Monastery of Esphigmenou on THEODORA of Myrrh-Bearing
Mount Athos of Elder Yours
Methodius. To this day, there is
the well of Saint Gregory, Thessaloniki
bishop of Thessaloniki, in the 34 Ermou,
courtyard of the Esphigmenou P.C.: 546 23 Thessaloniki
Monastery, from which (email): [email protected]
abundant drinking water https://maps.app.goo.gl/e75g1pb
gushes. The well is a blessing 8K6C1rHhD7
and fruit of the prayer of Saint
Gregory Palamas.
His memory is honored on the
second Sunday of Lent, while
for the Latins, the memory of
the saint is a reproach and
shame, since he defeated them
more than a few times, as well
as their heretical doctrines.

Saint Theodora was born in

Aegina in the year 812 to pious
parents, Antonius, who was a
priest, and Chrysanthi. Her
mother died during childbirth,
leaving Theodora an orphan.
Antonius, after the sudden
death of his wife, decided to
follow a hermit's life. For this
reason, he entrusted little
Theodora to a pious relative of
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

his, giving her the name Agape. for her husband ends and
Theodora also had two siblings, immediately afterwards,
a nun and a brother deacon. distributing most of her
While she was still seven years property to the poor, she takes
old, according to the legislation refuge in the Holy Monastery
in force at that time, her father of Saint Stephen, where the
betrothed her to a rich and confessor Anna was abbess. At
wise man. We are in the period the age of twenty-five, she
of iconoclasm, when raids by takes monastic vows, taking
Saracen pirates from Crete in the name Theodora.
the Saronic Gulf are Theodora lived in the
commemorated. Aegina is monastery of the protomartyr
plundered and the saint and Saint Stephen for fifty-five
her husband are forced to years. During this time, her
migrate for safety to virtuous life was a model of
Thessaloniki. There they have monastic life.
three children, two of whom
died. The saint and her
husband decide to offer their
only child to God and for this
reason they take him at the age
of just six to the monastery of
Evangelist Luke. There the
saint’s little daughter received
the angelic form and the name
Theopiste.
Shortly after Theopiste’s
monastic consecration,
Theodora’s husband also died.
This new tragic event did not
break her faith. The three-day
and nine-day memorial service

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

 celebration of the memory of
the saint Theodora prevailed to
be celebrated on August 3, the
day of the translation of the
saint's relics, and not on August
29, because it coincided with
the feast of the beheading of
the Holy Forerunner.

At the time when the saint was

in her fiftieth year of age, her The Monastery of Saint
daughter, Theopiste, was Stephen during the Ottoman
promoted to the helm of the Empire
abbessship of the monastery. The monastery was called in
The former abbess Anna was Turkish Kizlar Manastir
already in deep old age, had (Monastery of the Girls),
lost her senses and her reason, although its Turkish name did
and the saint Theodora nursed not prevail among the Christian
her, enduring all her whims. population, who continued to
On August 29, 892, at the age call it by its original name. Its
of eighty, the saint, after a five- district was one of the twelve
day illness, passed into eternal Christian districts of the city.
life, after having previously Among other things, it included
requested and received the a house for its priests, a school
Holy Mysteries. However, the and a shop belonging to the
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

monastery, as well as a chapel 10.Holy Church of the God
in the district of Saint Sophia
Constantine in Hippodrome
Square. Thessaloniki

Agia Sophia Postal Code

54622
Tel 2310270253
2310270253
https://maps.app.goo.gl/iS2awXH
UsioK2YJh9
2310270253

The monastery's catholicon

was severely damaged during
the two fires of 1890 and 1917.
The fire of 1917 completely
destroyed the monastery's The holy cathedral and
catholicon. The only building pilgrimage church of the Holy
that survived was the bell Sophia is located in the center
tower of the church, which was of Thessaloniki, at the
built at the end of the 19th intersection of Agia Sophia and
century. Ermou streets. Dedicated to
Christ, the true Word and the
Wisdom of God, it celebrated

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

the Exaltation of the Holy Cross rule in the city, it once again
on September 14. served as the Orthodox
episcopal seat of Thessaloniki
until 1523/24, under Maktul
Ibrahim Pasha, when it was
converted into a mosque.

It is a World Cultural Heritage

monument.

Hagia Sophia in 1860

The oldest written reference to

the temple dates back to 795,
but archaeological data indicate
that it was built at the end of
the 7th century on the site of a
5th-century five-aisled basilica,
which was destroyed by an
earthquake around 620. After
A fire in 1890 destroyed the
the restoration of Byzantine
building, which was restored in
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

1907-1909 by the Byzantium
scholar Charles Dill. On 29 June Located in the center of
1913, the site was Thessaloniki
reconsecrated and returned to Constantine the Great was
Christian worship. probably born in Naisos, Upper
` Moesia, present-day Serbia
11. Church of Saints between the years 272-288 AD
Constantine and Helen His father was Constantius, also
Thessaloniki called Chlorus and was a
Stratou Avenue, Thessaloniki relative of Emperor Claudius.
PC54640 His mother was Saint Helen,
tel 2310893174 daughter of an innkeeper from
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RJXG2w Drepano in Bithynia.
Qqv1shCa7v5 In 305 AD, Constantine was at
the court of Emperor Diocletian
in Nicomedia with the office of
a thousand-arch. Diocletian
and Maximian resign their
positions and retire. Augustus
becomes the father of
Constantine along with
Galerius. Constantius Chlorus in
the West and Galerius in the
East. A year later, Constantius
dies on July 25, 306 AD and the
army proclaims Constantine
the Great as Augustus,
something that Galerius does
not accept. Constantine the
Great wanted to clash with
Maxentius, son of Maximian,
who had a strategic advantage,

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

because he had four times the
army and Constantine's army 12. HOLY MONASTERY OF
was already exhausted. PANAGIA ELEFTHEROTRIA
He began to pray to God,
raising his right hand and Panorama of Thessaloniki
begging to show him a sign for Postal Code 55236
what he was thinking of doing. Tel.: 2310341102, 2310261216
In the afternoon he saw a cross https://maps.app.goo.gl/6jvqH68
in the sky, which read “this is EtwdsKReFA
victory”. He could not
understand what this meant. At
night the Lord appeared to him
in his sleep and told him that
with this you will conquer.
So he made a banner with his
vision and began to march to
Rome without any defeat or
resistance.
In February 313 AD, in Milan,
where the marriage of Licinius
to Constantia, sister of
Constantine the Great, takes
place, a historic agreement is
The monastery has a thriving
made between the two men
monastic community of dozens
that establishes the principle of
of nuns (70 in number) under
religious tolerance.
the spiritual guidance of the
nun Melani. In the central
church is the miraculous icon of
Our Lady of Liberation.

The holy Monastery is worthy

of a pilgrimage trip since in
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

addition to the grace of the 13. HOLY MONASTERY OF
Virgin Mary there is also a SAINT PARASKEVI GIANNITSA
church of St. Anastasia of Rome
as well as a holy relic of the P.C 58100 N.PELLAS
Saint.
Giannitsa Tel. 2382082375

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3uPY6Y3
SZVx8jeLQ8

Holy relic of the saint on the

icon Celebrated on October 29
of each year.
It is located in the town of
The church is inaccessible to Giannitsa, on its southeastern
both men and women since it
is located in the main area of edge. The church was an old
the monastery, right next to mausoleum and later a Turkish
the cells of the nuns on the first
mosque.
floor. In the main area of the
monastery on the ground floor
there is the beautiful altar of It was renovated in 1990, some
Saint Panteleimon, the healer,
which is also inaccessible. new sections were added and it
was transformed into a church,

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

which is dedicated to Agia arrested her and promised her
Paraskevi. material goods in the event
that she would sacrifice to
idols. However, seeing that the
Saint remained steadfast in her
faith, he subjected her to the
torture of the red-hot helmet,
which she endured with
patience. Then Antoninus
ordered that she be placed in a
cauldron of hot oil and tar. But
because he saw the Saint
Saint Paraskevi was born in intact, he approached his face
Rome during the reign of to the cauldron - as he could
Emperor Antoninus (138 - 160 not explain how the saint had
AD). She was the daughter of remained intact - to test
devout Christians, Agathon and whether it was really hot, and
Politeia, who took care of her he was immediately blinded.
Christian education, as they The Saint, through prayer, gave
had promised God in the event Antoninus his light, resulting in
that he would give them a him believing in Christ or,
child. Because the child was according to others, in
born on Friday, she received stopping the persecutions
this name. After the death of against them. However, he
her parents, Paraskevi freed Saint Paraskevi, who
distributed all her property to continued to preach the Gospel
the poor and developed in other places, until she
missionary activity in Rome and reached Greece.
the outskirts of the city, In Tempe, a pagan ruler
preaching the word of Christ. subjected her to horrible
Her action provoked the pagan tortures, which she patiently
emperor Antoninus, who

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

endured, to end with death by Constantine and Helen in the
beheading. area. From oral tradition we
learn that the Monastery
She is celebrated on July 26. initially had a large brotherhood
14.HOLY MONASTERY OF (approximately 170 monks) and
SAINT HILARION OF MOGLEN, a large number of cells (around
PROMACHOI ARIDAIA seventy) until the time of the
Turkish occupation when the
8th km north of Aridaia, Monastery suffered complete
P.C 58400, PELLAS destruction and the massacre of
Tel.: 2384075700 the monks by the Turks who
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XiPKddwj entered the monastery by
cAzeRw5N9 deceit.

The monastery celebrates the Saint Hilarion

feast of the Saint's repose on
October 21. Saint Hilarion was born around
There is a miraculous 1080 - 1090 AD to pious Greek
consecration of Saints parents after the incessant
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

prayers of his barren mother to time, the Saint was ordained
the Most Holy Theotokos. Bishop of Moglena.

One night, the Virgin Mary The seat of his diocese is

appeared to her in her sleep rumored to have been the
and promised her that she present-day village of Chrysi.
would give birth to a son, who However, the area where the
would convert many from error Saint served as bishop was full
to the light of knowledge of of heretics who followed the
God. Monophysite Armenians and
Bogomils. These heretics had
When he turned eighteen, been settled in Moglena, which
Hilarion went to a monastery in was a place of exile for all kinds
his area and became a monk. He of heretics, by the Komnenian
lived with great asceticism, so dynasty. Saint Hilarion, with his
that all the brothers of the preaching work and his
Monastery spoke about him. persistent anti-heretical
struggle, caused the conversion
Later, he was also entrusted of large masses of heretics to
with the eldership of the the Orthodox faith.
Monastery and while he was
still abbot, the saint performed
many miracles and his fame
spread everywhere. Just as the
Virgin Mary appeared to his
mother and announced his
birth, so she appeared to the
Archbishop of Ohrid,
Eustathius, urging him to
appoint Saint Hilarion as the
Shepherd of the people of
Moglena. Indeed, after a short

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

15.HOLY MONASTERY OF
SAINT RAPHAEL NICHOLAS
THE DEACAND AND SAINT
ERINI

Goumenissa-Griva P.C. 61300

Kilkis Prefecture,
Tel.: 2343 020270
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DmqJpd
WfjhRaNYNG7

Saints Raphael, Nicholas and

Irini are among the choir of the
Newly Appearing Saints and in
fact those who were martyred
almost immediately after the
fall of Constantinople. We
The Holy Monastery of Saints know little about their lives.
Raphael, Nicholas and Irini is
The first information about the
located on a verdant slope of
Mount Paiko in the prefecture of
existence of the Saints is
Kilkis, at an altitude of 600 m. narrated in a miraculous and
overlooking the Axios valley, in the revealing way since the year
area of Griva-Goumenissa. 1959 AD. From an excavation
that took place in Thermi of
Lesvos, the tomb of an
unknown person was
discovered, who, as revealed in
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

continuous visions, belonged to On a hill, northeast of
the Holy Hieromartyr Raphael, Sidirokastro, Serres, is built the
who martyred together with imposing Holy Monastery of
the Holy Holy Martyr Nicholas the Holy Martyrs Cyrikos and
and Saint Irene. The tomb and Iouliti.
relic of Saint Nicholas were
discovered on June 13, 1960 The Monastery celebrates on
AD. July 15, the feast day of Saint
Cyrikos and his mother Saint
16.HOLY MONASTERY OF Iouliti.
SAINT CYRIKOS AND IOULITI
(Women) The latter came from Iconium
Sidirokastro Postal Code in Asia Minor, and lived during
62122, the time of Emperor Diocletian.
Tel.: 2323022395 SERRES
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RLAv6c8
VaXtMjnPn8

She was arrested by the ruler

Alexander, who subjected her
to terrible torture in front of her
child. Then he tried to take the
little one with him. Not only was
he not convinced, but invoking
the name of Christ, he gave a
strong kick to the stomach of
the tyrant ruler Alexander.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

 17.HOLY MONASTERY OF
PROPHET ELIAS – HOLY SPIRIT

Holy Spirit P.C. 62048 SERRES

Tel.: 23210 91360
https://maps.app.goo.gl/t8qYXaW
nUHksUn5o7

He became so enraged that he

pushed the little boy down the
stairs and broke his skull. In
this way, the little Preacher A few minutes (8 kilometers)
obtained his crown. His outside the city of Serres,
mother, after being subjected stands the beautiful Holy
to torture for a while longer, Monastery of Prophet Elias. It
gave up her holy soul to Jesus is located on the north side of
Christ. the settlement of the village of
Agios Pneuma.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

The first church was built in Elijah, they swaddled him in
1900 but fell into ruin over the fire and gave him fire to eat.
years.
Then his father went to
The current Catholic church, Jerusalem and after describing
built in the Athonite style, has the vision to the priests, they
preserved only two walls from told him, interpreting the
the old church. In the chapel of vision, that his son would
Panagia Myrtidiotissa, there is become a prophet and would
the miraculous icon of the judge Israel with a double-
Virgin Mary. edged sword and fire.

The Prophet Elijah exercised his

prophetic charism for 25 years
during the reign of King Ahab,
who reigned from 873 to 854
BC. Ahab and especially his
wife Jezebel were wicked
people and the war of the
prophet Elijah was against
them. Jezebel, who was not an
Israelite and was the cause of
the faith being corrupted by
Prophet Elias lived in 9 BC pagan customs, therefore she
century and was the son of persecuted the prophet Elijah a
Shobach and came from lot, which is why he was
Thesbe (which is why he was constantly forced to flee and
called Thesbite), today's El hide. Jezebel persecuted the
Istib, in the Gilead region and prophet Elijah, just as Herodias
belonged to the tribe of Aaron. persecuted John the Baptist.
When he was born, his father
saw a divine vision: Two men
dressed in white called him
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

 18.HOLY MONASTERY OF SAINT
KYRIAKIA ALISTRATI, SERRES

SERRES P.C. 62045

Nea Zichni, Tel.: 2324031499

https://maps.app.goo.gl/EMzUG
Me5o7nSL5Qi9

The prophet Elijah with a

sword in a cave and a raven
that fed him
Celebrated on July 20th every The monastery celebrates the
year. 7th of July, Saint Kyriaki.

Saint Kyriaki was the daughter

of Dorotheos and Eusebia.
They were childless and prayed
to God to give them a child.
Indeed, God was pleased, and
this Christian couple had a
child. She was born on a
Sunday, which is why they gave
her the name Kyriaki. During
the persecution of Diocletian,
in the year 282 AD, her parents
were arrested and after
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

interrogation, they were life? …..Enraged, Hilarianus
tortured and beheaded by tortured her cruelly and
Duke Justus. ordered her beheaded. But
before the sword fell, she
prayed and gave up her spirit to
the Lord.

19.HOLY MONASTERY OF
PANAGIA EIKOSIFOINISSA

SERRES P.C. 62047

Municipality of Amfipolis
Tel.:2510516581

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UZdacgq
qAwCYhfk67

Kyriaki was referred to Caesar

Maximian, and from there to
the ruler of Bithynia, Hilarian,
who reminded her that her
beauty was for pleasure and
not for torture. Then his virgin
daughter replied: "I pay no
attention to my youth or my
beauty. And the brightest of
earthly things are temporary, It is a historical monastery built
like flowers, and hollow, like at an altitude of 753 meters, on
shadows. Today, she said, I am the north side of Mount
beautiful, tomorrow an ugly Pangaios.
old woman. Should I then make
my beauty the center of my
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Today, this monastery is for 20.HOLY MONASTERY OF THE
women and hosts 23 nuns. It HOLY PRODROMOS "VEROIA
celebrates on three different SKETE
dates. On August 15, the P.C. 59132 IMATHIA
Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Tel.: 2331043430, 2331772796
on September 14, the Holy mobile6980015361
Cross, and on November 21,
the Presentation of the Virgin https://maps.app.goo.gl/uhZ6faj2ew
1MTg3Z7
Mary.

The Holy Monastery of the

Holy Forerunner of Veroia or
the Holy Stavropegic
Monastery of the Holy
The miraculous icon of the Forerunner of Imathia is
Virgin Mary, the unshakable located at the foot of the Pieria
hope of all Christians. Mountains next to the
Aliakmonas River and is
approximately 11 km. S.-SE.
from Veroia. The skete
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

celebrates on August 29 the
beheading of the venerable
head of John the Baptist and
on All Saints' Sunday all the
saints who settled in the Skete.

One of the most historic

monastic centers in
Macedonia, it has existed as a
Holy Skete since the 9th
century and as a Holy
Monastery since the 14th
century. It has a special
prestige since great fathers of He was called the Forerunner,
our Orthodox Church passed because his mission was to
through and practiced prepare his compatriots to
asceticism there, such as accept Jesus Christ. When John
Gregory Palamas, Dionysius of saw Christ approaching him, he
Olympus, Saint Cosmas the said: “Behold the Lamb of God,
Aetolian, Saint Anthony the who takes away the sin of the
Ascetic, etc. world. This is he of whom I said,
‘After me comes a man who has
become before me, because he
was before me.’”

He was honored to baptize the

Lord in the Jordan River and saw
the Holy Spirit descending from
heaven and sitting on Him while
the voice of the Father
confirmed the divinity of the
Son as the second Person of the
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Holy Trinity, saying: “This is my It is a historical monastery. On
beloved Son, in whom I am well February 19, 1822, the
pleased.” beginning of the Revolution for
the entire region of Macedonia
The Skete houses the holy relics was declared in Naoussa and
of the Holy Forerunner the revolutionary banners were
(phalanxes from the fingers of blessed in the holy church of
his hands), Saint John Agios Demetrios.
Chrysostom, Saint
Charalambos, Saint Tryphon, The next day, the chieftain
Saint Barbara, Saints Cosmas Tassos Karatasos and his fellow
and Damian, etc. fighters set up their
headquarters in the monastery
21. HOLY MONASTERY OF of Dovra with the aim of
PANAGIA DOVRA, VERIA Tel.: occupying Veria. They choose
2331027599Mobile the Monastery because it is
6970952120 6946933493 close to Veria, but is invisible
from it due to the hills in the
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Q6ryKLc surrounding area, but is also
9TdfgAtyEA familiar to Karatasos due to his
origin from the village of Dovra.

The Monastery is fortified,

bastions are built and guards
are placed on the surrounding
hills. Karatasos remains inside
the Monastery with
approximately 240 men, while
a second body under his
command occupies the heights
near the road through which
the Turkish army would pass.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Thousands of Turks will be 22.HOLY MONASTERY OF
killed in the battle and IBIRON, MOUNT Athos
Karatasos flees to Naoussa to
continue his fight there. The Karyes, Tel.2377023646
monastery buildings are Pilgrims' Office
burned and the village of Dovra Tel.2310252575
is not spared from the fury of https://maps.app.goo.gl/rVEW9AEFk
the Turks, who were fooled in 61pbuqEA
this way, and is completely
destroyed.

In their passage, no one and

nothing remains standing. As
they leave, they take with them
the abbot of the monastery
Gerasimos, whom they hang as
an example in Orologio Square
in Veria, while they sell the
residents of the village of Dovra
as slaves in the slave markets
of Thessaloniki, thus showing
the fate that awaits anyone
who dares to help the
revolutionaries.
The Holy Patriarchal and
Stavropegic Monastery of
The Monastery celebrates the
Iviron is one of the twenty
Friday of the Renewal, the feast
monasteries of Mount Athos
of the Life-Giving Spring.
and is ranked third in the
hierarchical order of the
Athonite Monasteries. It is
Greek, coenobitic and
celebrates the Assumption of
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

the Virgin Mary. At the to her one night in her sleep,
entrance to the monastery is and after giving her courage and
the miraculous icon of the promising to cure her, he said to
Virgin Mary called Portaitis, the her:
Gatekeeper and steward and - Tell your father to bring my
protector of all Macedonia. icon, Portaitissa, from the
Iberian monastery.

In the morning the sick

daughter conveyed the order
and immediately an emergency
mission was launched to convey
the Tsar's wish to the Iberian
monks.

The Princess was cured and the

Tsar, in token of his gratitude to
the Virgin Mary, donated 2,500
rubles as an annual allowance
to the monastery, a meteoch of
St. Nicholas and duty-free on
everything imported and
exported from the country to
In 1651, the Iberian monks were and from Russia with the
experiencing great financial direction of the Holy Monastery
hardship in terms of food and of Iveron.
living expenses. At that time,
the daughter of the Tsar of
Russia, Alexei Mikhailovich, was
seriously ill. Her legs were
paralyzed and, according to the
doctors, incurable. He appeared
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

 23. HOLY MONASTERY OF
DOCHIARIOS, MOUNT Athos

Tel.:2377023271Pilgrims'
Office tel.2310252575

https://maps.app.goo.gl/o1Pu5y6Vu
VQXpha68

The Holy Monastery of

Dochiarios is one of the twenty
It is celebrated on the third day Monasteries of Mount Athos
of the Holy Week of Easter. and celebrates the Synaxis of
the Archangels on November 8
and of Saint Nicholas on
December 6.

The most important relic of the

Monastery is the famous
miraculous icon of Panagia
Gorgoypikou.
- 39 -

Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

 incense it daily.

The blind Nilos spent all his

time in a pew in front of the
icon, begging the Virgin Mary
to forgive him and heal him,
which was done when, for the
third time, a voice was heard
from the icon, informing Nilos
that his prayer had been heard
In 1646, the monk Niles, who and that the monks should
regularly passed in front of the henceforth resort to Her divine
icon holding lit incense in his protection and shelter for all
hand for his service at the their needs. She will hear them
table, heard a voice telling him quickly because her name is
the following: “Do not pass by “Gorgoypikoos”.
here again with incense,
smoking my icon.” Niles did not Gorgoypikoos and Portaitissa
pay much attention to the always have a monk as their
voice, but it was soon heard patron.
again, rebuking the monk and
leaving him blind. The brothers
began to pass in front of the
icon with great reverence, hung
a lamp that never went out and
ordered the new monk to
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

24.SKETE OF SAINT ANDREAS Andrew the First-Called and Saint
AND ANTHONY OF THE GREAT Anthony the Ascetic.
MOUNT ATHOS

Karyes, Tel.: 2377023810,

Pilgrims' Office tel.
2310252575

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FZTveHnEoa
1SSHbz5

The Skete of Saint Andrew

belongs to the Holy Monastery
of Vatopedi. It is a magnificent
complex of buildings in the Saint Ephraim the Just has
Russian style, in the outer worthily patronized the Greek-
south wing of the Skete the speaking monastic community
Athonia School is housed. since 2001, while he renovated
almost the entire skete,
creating at least four new
churches which are operated
daily on a rotating basis.

It celebrates twice a year Saint

- 41 -

Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Saint Andrew, a fisherman by
profession and brother of the
Apostle Peter, was from
Bethsaida in Galilee. His father
was called Jonah. Because he
was called by the Lord first in
the group of disciples, he was
called the First Called. His
memory is honored on The Apostle Andrew went to
November 30. Achaia, where he founded a
church and managed to
Both brothers had joined the convert Maximilla, wife of the
circle of disciples of Saint John proconsul Aegeates, to
the Baptist. Christianity, whom he cured of
One day John the Baptist, an incurable disease. The
seeing Jesus, said to Andrew Roman official was enraged
and Peter, who were standing and ordered the crucifixion of
near him: “Behold the Lamb of the Apostle Andrew on an X-
God.” The two brothers shaped cross, which was then
decided to follow Christ, with called the "Cross of Saint
the intention of talking to him Andrew"
and not becoming his disciples.
This happened later, after the
arrest and imprisonment of the
Baptist, when Christ told them,
“Follow me, and I will make
you fishers of men.” The flag of Scotland bears the
cross of St. Andrew.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

 dedicated to the Presentation
of Christ (February 2). It was
founded in the late 9th and
early 10th centuries by Paul
Xeropotaminus or
Xeropotamitis on the ruins of a
small cell of the Presentation of
the Virgin Mary, which had
been founded in 377.

Among the relics, part of the

The flag of the Russian Navy Holy Gifts of the Magi to the
bears the cross of St. Andrew, newborn Christ stands out.
The Apostle Andrew is the
patron saint of Russia,
Romania, and Scotland, as well
as the patron saint of Patras,
the Karyos of Mount Athos,
and many Christians.

25.HOLY MONASTERY OF
SAINT PAUL OF MOUNT Athos

Tel.: 2377023741
Pilgrims' office tel. 2310252575
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FeF7L1pJ7X
hv689B7

The Monastery of Saint Paul is A Christian feast day,

located at an altitude of 140 commemorating the arrival of
meters above sea level and is the infant Christ by his parents
- 43 -

Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

in the Temple of Jerusalem and for my eyes have seen your
his reception by the presbyter salvation,
priest Simeon. which you have prepared in the
presence of all peoples,
The Presentation of the Lord is a light for revelation to the
one of the 12 great feasts of Gentiles and the glory of your
the Orthodox Christian Church people Israel."
The ecclesiastical event of the
Presentation of the Lord,
narrated by the Evangelist Luke
(2:22-38), occurred forty days
after the birth of Jesus. Since,
according to Mosaic law, he
was the first child of the family
and a boy, he had to be
dedicated to God and at the
same time the parents had to
offer Him a small sacrifice of a
pair of turtledoves or two
young pigeons. The Virgin Mary
was preceded in the temple by
the aged Simeon, who received
Jesus in his arms. The high
priest had received a promise The Righteous Simeon was
from God that he would not die worthy to take in his hands the
before seeing Christ, and he Redemption of Israel, Jesus
thanked Him with the words: Christ.

"Now you are dismissing your According to tradition, in the

servant, Lord, according to your 3rd century BC, 72 bilingual
word, in peace, Jewish scholars from
Alexandria, Egypt undertook to

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

translate the Old Testament during the rendering of the
from Hebrew into Greek. translation, instead of Virgin,
he tried to translate into Greek
This particular translation is the word nvara (young woman)
also the first written translation and not the word virgin, and
from Hebrew into Greek. For then an angel's voice was
the sake of brevity, and heard saying, "You, Simeon, will
possibly paraphrasing, it has live and see the Christ and will
gone down in history as the hold him in your hands," while
translation of the seventy and at the same time an invisible
not the seventy-two. hand slapped him on the cheek
for his disrespect in attributing
Among these 72 translators a different meaning to Greek
was a young man named than the one it had in Hebrew.
Symeon.
On the same day, while hiking
Like the others, he was also next to a river, Simeon takes
credited with some parts that the ring off his hand (it is
he undertook to translate. known that all influential men
When Simeon was studying for many centuries wore rings
with other fellow teachers the on their hands with which, by
prophet Elijah and arriving at placing their upper side in wax,
the passage with the prophecy they signed with a unique
"Behold, a Virgin shall conceive design that represented their
in her womb and bear a son, 'signature') and throws it to the
and they shall call his name bottom of the river, saying that
Emmanuel, which is, being if he somehow finds this ring
interpreted, God with us," he then and only then will he
wondered how a Virgin could believe that Isaiah's prophecy
be called a Virgin and did not can be fulfilled.
believe that such a thing could
happen. In fact, it is said that

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Indeed, that same evening, the tribe of Asher, who lost her
together with his fellow husband 7 years after their
teachers, they sat down to eat marriage and then dedicated
in a nearby village and bought herself completely to God and
fish. When Simeon opened the was constantly day and night in
fish to eat, he found the ring the temple with much prayer
that he himself had thrown and fasting, while God had
into the river in the morning given her the prophetic gift and
and he told the others about made her worthy to see Christ
this miraculous event. up close and worship him,
prophesying-confirming that
From then on, Simeon went to Jesus is the expected Messiah.
Jerusalem and waited for many,
many years to receive
information so that the
prophecy of the angel's voice
would be fulfilled...

...and indeed this day arrived Simeon received it in his hands,

many, many years later when throwing the mantle so that his
Simeon was very old and the "unworthiness" would not
same voice of the angel touch the Divinity with his bare
informed him to go to the hands and addressing the
temple of Solomon: ''Simeon, Virgin Mary, he prophesied that
go to the temple and see the "Behold, this man is set for the
desired thing that you have fall and rising of many in Israel,
been waiting for for so many and for a sign that will be
years.'' spoken against"

At the scene was also the

prophetess Anna, a virtuous
elderly widow, who came from

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

26.SKETE OF SAINT ANNA OF
MOUNT ATHOS

Tel.2377023320,2377023922
Pilgrims' office tel. 2310252575
https://maps.app.goo.gl/oVZcfnGrKe
Dsqvgy8

The Saint Anna Skete belongs The miraculous icon of Saint

to the Monastery of Megisti Anne is located in the Kyriakos
Lavra. It is the largest and of the Skete.
oldest Skete of Mount Athos. It
was founded in the late 17th Saint Anna was the mother of
century by monks who arrived the Virgin Mary. Her name,
in the area in 1686 with the Anna, was perhaps pronounced
aim of protecting the left foot with an X from the Hebrew
of Saint Anna, mother of the Hannah, which means favor,
Virgin Mary, which they carried grace. She was the daughter of
with them. Matthan of the tribe of Levi
and Mary. She had two sisters,
Mary and Sobie, mother of
Elizabeth, who gave birth to
John the Baptist. Anna married

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Joachim, who was from the
tribe of Judah.

They lived near the pool of

Bethesda in Jerusalem. But
Joachim and Anna had no
children and the gifts of the
childless were not accepted in
the Temple.

With the shame of

She was still in the Temple of
childlessness, Saint Anna
Jerusalem.Our church
begged God to give her a child.
celebrates her memory three
Finally, the barren Anna, now
times a year:
an old woman, gave birth to
the long-desired child, Mary.
a) On September 9, together
with the God-forger Joachim.
Joachim and Anna fulfill their
vow to God by offering their
b) On December 9, the
three-year-old daughter to the
conception of Saint Anne is
Temple, as a dedication to God.
celebrated.
Joachim died eight years after
the Presentation of his
c) On July 25, her holy
daughter Mary at the age of
Dormition is celebrated.
92, and Anna 11 months after
Joachim's death, at the age of
Saint Anne was honored by the
83. Therefore, Joachim
Church since ancient times. In
conceived the Theotokos at the
550 AD, Emperor Justinian
age of 80 and Anna at the age
dedicated a church in
of 70. The Theotokos was 11
Constantinople in honor of
years old when she was
Saint Anne.
orphaned by both her parents.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

27. HOLY MONASTERY OF
XIROPOTAMOS OF MOUNT
ATHOS

Tel.:2377023251

Pilgrims' office tel.2310252575

https://maps.app.goo.gl/nMZFm
kUHMPxi97vv5

The Holy Monastery of

Xiropotamos celebrates the 40
Martyrs on March 9. It was
founded at the end of the 10th
century by the monk Paul
Xiropotamos, where he was the
first hegemon of the
Monastery and was one of
those who signed the first
Typicon of Mount Athos, the
"Goat".

In the Holy Monastery of

Xiropotamos there is the
largest piece of the Holy Wood
on the Mount.

Because this part of the Holy And these forty Saints were
Wood also bears a hole from soldiers in the most elite
the nails of the Crucifixion, the battalion of Licinius' army.
Monastery also celebrates on When he launched a
the feast of the Holy Cross. persecution against the
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Christians, the forty Saints pulled half-dead from the lake
were immediately arrested by in the morning and their limbs
the prefect Agricola (in were crushed. The martyr’s
Sebasteia). At first he praised relics were found by Christians
them and promised them on a cliff, where they had been
rewards and positions, so that gathered according to divine
they would deny their faith. providence and were
Then one of the forty, Candide, reverently buried.
responded negatively on behalf
of all. Agricola understood that
he could not impose himself on
them in a calm manner and Basil the Great "possessed
ordered them to be tortured. parts of their holy relics" and
So, one freezing winter night, wrote a wonderful sermon on
they were thrown into the cold the Saints, while he built a
waters of a lake. The torture chapel in memory of the forty
was horrible. Their bodies holy martyrs, the first church in
began to turn blue. But they the East in honor of the Saints,
encouraged each other, saying: on their estate in Pontus. That
"Winter is harsh, but paradise is why in the chapel of the
is sweet. Let us endure a little Saints that exists in the center
and in one night we will gain all of Aristotle in Thessaloniki, in
eternity.”While the martyrdom addition to the Icon of the forty
was going on, only one fainted holy ones, there is also the icon
and came out of the lake. of Basil the Great on the right.
However, he was replaced by
the guard (Aglaios), who saw .
the crowns above their heads.
He confessed Christ, entered
the lake and together with the
39 he also received the crown
of martyrdom, after they were

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

28.HOLY MONASTERY OF miraculous icons of the Virgin
KONSTAMONITOS AGIOS Mary Hodegetria and
STEFANOS Antiphonitria.
MOUNT ATHOS Among the other relics are a
Tel.: 2377023228 piece of Holy Wood, a
Pilgrims' Office Byzantine epitaph, vestments
Tel.2310252575 and church utensils. The library
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Bz5zJXz27xo of Konstamonito contains 110
bmBKMA manuscripts and about 5,000
printed books.
Today it has about 80
hardworking monks.

According to tradition, this

Monastery was built by
Constantine the Great and is
dedicated to the Protomartyr
Saint Stephen. However,
historical evidence survives
from the 11th century. Among
the relics of the monastery are
the miraculous icons of the
Protomartyr Stephen, a work of
the 8th century, and two
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

 and envy. He was stoned and
murdered by deceived Jews
and Judaizers in Jerusalem.
He is celebrated on December
27th, while the transfer of the
holy relics of the Protomartyr
Stephen is celebrated on
August 2nd in the monastery's
metochi in Perea, Thessaloniki.

The discovery of the holy relics

The first martyr of Christianity, occurred during the years when
he shed his blood for Jesus the great persecutions of the early
Christ. He was a zealous worker Christians had subsided and
of the Gospel and of the meals Constantine the Great was the
that were made for widows emperor.
and orphans. With his deep
theological training, he easily At that time, Saint Stephen
overturned the Jews' appeared three times to a pious
old priest, Lucian, and revealed to
misgivings about the work of
him the place where his relic was
Christ, provoking their anger
hidden. He immediately reported
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

this to the Patriarch of Jerusalem,
John, who in turn went to the
indicated place and indeed found
the Holy Relic of Saint Stephen.

The Holy Abbot of the

monastery, Elder Agathon, left
a precious legacy of prayer,
fasting, abstinence from sin
and patience in tribulations for
Christ.
When the relics were found, a
great earthquake occurred, and
the relic of the Saint filled the place
with a fragrance. It is said that
angelic voices were heard from
heaven, saying, "Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward men."

Elder Charalambos is a worthy

successor and abbot of
thousands of Orthodox in the
Church of Christ.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

29. HOLY MONASTERY OF containing the Divine Liturgy of
KARAKALLO Saint John Chrysostom.

MOUNT ATHOS Pilgrims' office The monastery houses the

tel. 2310252575 venerable relics of Saint
Gedeon of Caracallinus, who
TEL 2377023225. held the office of Ecclesiastical
Deacon in the monastery and
https://maps.app.goo.gl/V4LRqyA of the treasurer in a metochia
Q3WFtxhjMA of the monastery in Crete,
where he served with self-
denial for many years. . The
Holy Monastery has since then
boasted of Saint Gedeon and
magnificently celebrates his
holy memory

It was founded in the 10th

century and is honored in
honor of the Holy First Apostles
Peter and Paul (June 29). The
library preserves 42 parchment
codices from the 9th to the
14th centuries. Of particular
value is a parchment scroll
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

He was martyred in Tyrnavos, kidnapped him and converted
Thessaly on December 30, him to Islam under the name
1818 Ibrahim. After two months,
Nikolaos managed to escape
and returned to his family. His
father took him to the village of
Keramidi, where he went to
Crete with some builders.
There he confessed to a priest
and found asylum in his chapel.
After the death of the priest,
Nicholas left for Mount Athos.
There he confessed again,
received the immaculate
mysteries and in the Monastery
of Karakalos, he was tonsured a
monk with the name Gideon.

The fathers of the Monastery

assigned him the ministry of
Saint Gedeon was born in the
the Ecclesiarch and in 1797 AD
village of Kapourna in
he became a great economist
Demetrias (Magnesia
in the Metamorfosis
Prefecture) and was known in
monastery, in the area of
the world as Nikolaos. His pious
Rethymno, Crete. After six
parents were named Avgerinos
years of staying in the
and Kyratza, while he had three
monastery, he returned to the
other brothers and four sisters.
monastery of his repentance.
At the age of twelve, he and his
family came to the village of
However, with the desire for
Germi and from there to
martyrdom, he came to
Velestino, where he worked
Velestino, to the place where
with his uncle. However, a Turk
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

he denied his faith, where in EASTERN MACEDONIA AND
the market place he THRACE REGION
courageously confessed Christ.
Persecuted by the Turks, he Kavala Prefecture
came to Agia, where he was
arrested. The Turks, after 1. CHURCH OF SAINT
having paraded him through GREGORY THE THEOLOGIST
the streets of Tirnavos, then
cut off his legs and arms and Nea Karvali Postal Code 64006
then threw him into the Kavala Prefecture
latrines. There, in terrible pain, Tel.:2510316232
he gave up his spirit on
December 30, 1818 AD. https://maps.app.goo.gl/vbUcuu
HivZ2PPwCMA
The Christians received the
saint, who was fragrant
throughout his burial service.

About twelve (12) kilometers

east of the city of Kavala, lies
Nea Karvali, where the refugee
residents from Asia Minor
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

transported a priceless 2.HOLY TRINITY-FIVE MARTYRS
treasure, the holy relic of CHURCH
Gregory the Theologian, one of
the greatest Fathers of our Polystylo, P.C. 64003 Kavala
Church. Ignoring myriad
dangers, the uprooted Tel.: 2510391365
Gelveriots transported most of
the relics of the Saint, which https://maps.app.goo.gl/B6Y4xSjf
had been in their homeland 1MKekzKAA
since 390 AD (in his
homonymous church), along
with all the sacred and holy
relics of their homeland. In
honor of the Saint and Great
Hierarch, a Church was built in
Nea Karvali, which is a faithful
copy of the holy church of Saint
Gregory located in Gelveri in
Asia Minor.

The Holy Five Martyrs, Eustratios,

Afxentius, Eugenius, Mardarius
and Orestes, suffered in 296 in
Cappadocia in Asia Minor, during
the harsh persecutions of the
Roman Emperors Diocletian and
Maximian, and their holy relics
were brought to Greece during
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

the Asia Minor Catastrophe, in thirtieth of December, in 296,
1924, by the inhabitants of when the prefect of the region,
Semedere in Cappadocia, a village Agricolas, threw him into the fire
between the villages of Misthi and alive.
Enehil. The pious and virtuous
Eustratios was an important ruler
of the Arabrak region (otherwise
Semedra or Semedere, in Greek it
is translated as “Semandra”, the
present-day Ovacik in Turkey) but
also a senior general.

Before entering the fire,

however, Saint Eustratios made
the sign of the cross and
prayed.

His Tabernacle was left in the

forest to be eaten by beasts,
but it was found and rescued by
At a dinner, to which he had
pious Arabs, while as a
invited his fellow citizens, he
Hieromartyr, his Honorable
announced that he wished to bear
witness for Christ. Thus he was Cara bears the sign of the Cross.
arrested and endured many
tortures, including being made to The commander of the Roman
walk several kilometers in shoes armed forces, Eugenius,
with sharp nails inside them, wanted to be martyred
while he was martyred on the together with his friend
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Eustratios, and the same He died after lying down on an
commander ordered his tongue iron bed, which, by order of
to be cut out and his bones to Agricola, was plunged into
be crushed, and thus he also flames and in fact, before it was
gave up his spirit in the Lord. finished with joy, he sneered for
a moment, but Eustratios
A simple builder, named encouraged him and so he too
Mardarius, seeing the glorious received the crown of
star being led to Martyrdom, martyrdom.
leaving behind his wife and
children, who not only accepted The Holy Five Martyrs are also
his departure but were glad for the Patrons of the Skete of Saint
the opportunity given to him, Anne.
followed him. Chios also solemnly celebrates
Saint Mardarius expired in a the Saints, in the beautiful
horrible manner, his ankles church of Saint Efstratios in
were pierced, ropes were Thymiana.
passed through the holes, he
was hung upside down and his The Five Martyrs have
kidneys were pierced with red- performed numerous miracles.
hot spits, also an idea of the A beautiful event took place in a
wretched Lysias. metochi of the New Monastery
of Chios, dedicated to the
Finally, the young soldier Saints.
Orestes, while practicing
archery in the plain, his tunic The year the Miracle occurred,
was torn and it appeared that a heavy and severe winter fell.
he was wearing a golden cross Due to the excessive snow, the
around his neck, a gift from his fathers were unable to descend
mother who was a Christian. to the metochi nor the pilgrims
to come to the chapel.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

The parish priest alone rang the But he again changed the verb
bell, performed the blessing because he was ashamed, he
and began the Morning Prayer. said again, he was ashamed.
Suddenly he sees five dignified Then Saint Eustratios shouted
men, who entered the Church to him louder:
with reverence, unknown to the —Read it as you felt it, because
priest, taking their places, two you were not ashamed when
by two at the lecterns and in the you saw the bed, but you were
middle the youngest leading afraid.
the canon. Their faces are And immediately after this
familiar, their clothing is word, the Five also
strange, their voices are bright, disappeared.
their style is imposing. Seeing the paradox, the priest
remained speechless for a long
The time has come to read the time.
story of the martyrdom of the When he came to himself, he
saints. finished the service as it was.
The young man reads: …”And With fear, he then recounted
Saint Orestes, seeing the bed of the event to those who came
fire, was moved and said to later.
Saint Eustratios to pray for him” The Memory of the Holy
At that moment, the man who Glorious Martyrs Eustratios,
resembled Saint Eustratios Afxentios, Eugenios, Mardarios
raises his eyes and, looking very and Orestos is celebrated on
attentively at his counterpart December 13.
Orestes, says to him:
—Why do you change the
words and not say them as they
are written? Read this passage
a second time.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

3.HOLY SHRINE OF SAINT truths and the timeless values
LYDIA PHILIPPISIA BAPTISTRY of our Nation to our society.

Amygdaleonas,

Postal Code 64012

Kavala,Tel:2510 225511;.

Email: [email protected]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cFQhT47nrD
2ELsV39

The Orthodox Christian The Sisterhood is named after

Sisterhood "Lydia" is a the first European Christian,
monastic, missionary Saint Lydia, who came to know
Brotherhood. It has been active Christ through the preaching of
in the area of Northern Greece the Apostle Paul in Philippi. She
since 1958. The Brotherhood's and all her family were
goal is the sanctification of its baptized and then worked as a
members and at the same time missionary, bringing the truth
the transmission of Christian of the Gospel to the pagan
world of her time.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

 4.HOLY MONASTERY OF
ARCHANGELOS MICHAEL

THASSOS P.C.64004

Tel.259301500

https://maps.app.goo.gl/TWQ66zz69
HTzTVMb7

The Holy Elder of the

monastery, Fr. Theophilos
Zisopoulos

The Monastery of Archangel

Michael of Thassos is a 13th-
century women's monastery. It
is located between the villages
of Astrida and Aliki and is built
on the edge of a cliff, above a
wild bay, with a unique view,
both for those who see it from
afar and for those who gaze at
the sea from its windows.
- 62 -

Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

The Monastery houses a piece we mentioned above, which is
of the Holy Helium, that is, part also a source of much grace
of the nails with which Christ and healing.
was crucified, while its
exhibition hall is also very rich. 5.HOLY MONASTERY OF THE
ASSUMPTION OF THE MOTHER
To visit the monastery, one is OF GOD THASSOS
required to observe dress code
rules of decency, while clothes Maries P.C. 64002
for those who have not been
properly prepared are offered THASSOSTel: 2593051394
at the entrance.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uamPY1KiVb
4Ksia88

The holy monastery of the

Assumption of the Virgin Mary
(Panagia or Panagouda) is
located between Maries and
Skala Marien. The church of the
Virgin Mary that exists in the
The Presence and Miracles of monastery was built in 1813
Archangel Michael in this place and took the place of an older
are closely connected to the one. The monastery hosts a
history of the Holy Nail, which miraculous icon of the Virgin
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Mary from the 15th - 16th transporting the devout visitor
century. The monastery to the Holy City of Zion with
celebrates on August 15. awe and emotion.

6.HOLY MONASTERY OF SAINT

MENAS FROM EGYPT

P. C. 62045DramaTel.
2324031991

https://maps.app.goo.gl/pTSgLA2eh3
HGtSma7

At a distance of approximately
1500 meters west of the village
of Perihora in the area of
“Tagala”, the Holy Monastery of
Agios Minas stands majestically
on the slope of a picturesque
ravine, surrounded by a pine
forest. The entire Church is
decorated with rich
iconography with scenes from
the life of the Old and New
Testaments, mentally

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

The Holy Monastery has the
blessing and joy of being
adorned with the Holy Relics of
the five Martyrs of Cappadocia:
Efstratius, Afxentius, Eugenius,
Mardarius, and Orestes.

7.HOLY MONASTERY OF THE

ASSUMPTION OF THE SAVIOR -
SIPSA (WOMEN'S)

Taxiarches Dramas Postal Code

Today, a large female
66100,Tel: 25210-45023
brotherhood of nuns flourishes
at this point, which constitutes
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9UJLG9
the Holy Monastery of the
44JxbgjAxz6 Ascension of the Savior

In the settlement of Taxiarches

Drama (Sipsa) The first
"settler" in the year 1930 was
the blessed father Saint George
Karslidis (1901 - 1959), who The Elder of the monastery
acquired the reputation of a Saint George Karslidis.
holy man.
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

8.HOLY MONASTERY OF
PANAGIA ARCHANGELIOTISSA
-KALAMOUS XANTHI

P.C. 67100

[email protected]
om Tel.:2541029799

https://maps.app.goo.gl/h7MX4UG7
wYrvmnBt6

The miraculous icon of the

Virgin Mary that you find in the
monastery

The monastery was acquired in

1841 by fundraising and
donations from residents of
Xanthi. In 1913, during the
The Holy Monastery is built on Bulgarian occupation, cultural
a rock north of Xanthi in the treasures and heirlooms of the
Samakov district. monastery were stolen and
transferred to Bulgaria.
After its liberation in 1919 by
the Bulgarians, the monastery
distributed most of its property
in fields to landless refugees
from Asia Minor.
Today, the monastery is a male
monastery.
The monastery celebrates the
Assumption of the Virgin Mary
- 66 -

Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

9.HOLY MONASTERY OF THE while making a multitude of
ASSUMPTION OF THE MOTHER handicrafts that help them
OF GOD maintain the monastery.
EVROS

P.C. 68100
N.Makri, Tel. 25510 71263.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mSXjsABpG5
MXoVkq5

The miraculous icon of the

he Monastery of Panagia Evros, as Virgin Mary, the unshakable
the Holy Monastery of the hope of all Christians.
Dormition of the Theotokos is
more widely known, was founded
in 1980 by the Metropolitan of
Alexandroupolis, Anthimos
Roussas, on a privately owned site
in Makri, a thriving monastic
women's community that is
particularly active in the arts and
ministries.

The nuns of the monastery create

a climate of devotion and
repentance for the faithful pilgrims
- 67 -

Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

10.HOLY MONASTERY OF HOLY where a blessing is performed.
SKEPIS AND SAINT PARASKEVI

Postal Code 68300

Didymoticho Evros
Tel.:2552300714

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oT6ZqEBww
Mcsaq2H9

The name Zoodochos Pigi tou

It is located next to the Greek- Baloukli or Panagia

Turkish border, a short distance Baloukliotissa refers to a holy
from the town of Nea Vyssa,
Evros.The small chapel of saint Christian holy spring located in
Paraskevi has always been a Constantinople outside the
point of reference for the
residents of the wider Orestiada western gate of Silybria,
area. where the so-called "palaces of

There is also a large attendance springs" existed in which the

of believers on the feast day of Byzantine Emperors spent their
Zoodochos Pigi
spring vacations.
- 68 -

Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

It took its name from the Indeed, Leo built a magnificent
Turkish name Balık (meaning church in honor of the Virgin
fish) and includes the Mary at that place, which he
monastery, the church and the named "Spring".
holy spring.
WESTERN MACEDONIA
The later Emperor Leo the
REGION
Thracian or Leo the Great (457
Prefecture of Grevena
- 474 AD), when he was coming
to Constantinople as a simple 1.HOLY MONASTERY OF SAINT
NIKANOROS OF ZAVORDA
soldier, met a blind man at the P.C.51200Deskati Grevena,
Golden Gate who asked him for Tel.:2462025261

water. https://maps.app.goo.gl/rkhFBu3KdH
dPyZVQA
While looking for water, a voice
indicated the spring to him.
The blind man drank and the
muddy water came to his eyes
and he was healed.
When he later became
Emperor, the prophetic voice
told him that he should build a
The monastery was founded by
Church next to the spring.
Saint Nikanor from
Thessaloniki, probably in the
- 69 -

Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

third decade of the 16th
century.Nikanor came from a
wealthy family, at a young age
he renounced wealth, became
a monk and initially lived
asceticism in a small cave,
known today as the "hermitage
of Nikanor", on Mount
Kallistrat.Later, when Jeremias I
was patriarch, he built the
monastery on the foundations
of an older temple that existed
on this site. The monastery
experienced great prosperity,
acquired considerable wealth,
and for centuries was the most
important spiritual institution
for the entire region.

There was a school on its Saint Nikanor, the founder of

premises, which developed the monastery
into a major educational center
in Macedonia, operating
continuously until 1912. The
monastery is for men and
celebrates on August 6
(Transfiguration of the Savior)
and 7 (Assumption of Saint
Nikanor).

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

2.HOLY MONASTERY OF SAINT The monastery is strongly
NEKTARIUS (ANDRIKI) influenced by the grace of Saint
Nektarios.
Kozani Prefecture Velventos
Postal Code 50400Tel.:2464
024667

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GPNr
QzCufcZ31uMY6

The monastery celebrates on

November 9th and on
September 3rd the day of the
transfer of the relics of the
Myrrh-Bearer and Miracle
Worker Nektarios, Metropolitan
of Pentapolis Regarding the life of Saint
Nektarios, he was born on Tuesday,
October 1, 1846, in Silybria,
Turkish-occupied Thrace, to pious
and poor parents - Dimos
(Demosthenes) and Vasiliki
Kephala, née Balou.His father
came from Ioannina, a sailor by
profession, and his mother came
from Silybria.He was the fifth child
in the family and was given the
name Anastasios.He took his first
lessons in Constantinople, while
working, at the age of 13.

He then studied at the Theological

School of Athens, graduating in
1885.He went to the Patriarchate
of Alexandria, where he was
- 71 -

Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

appointed secretary of the along with a few other women,
Patriarchate.He was a famous wished to become a nun and were
preacher and in 1889 he became looking for a spiritual guide, which
Metropolitan of they found in the person of Saint
Pentapolis.Patriarch Sophronios Nektarios.At his urging, they began
intended him to be his successor. to look for a place to create a
This caused the envy of the priests monastery, and eventually ended
there. Saint Nektarios, in order to up in a dilapidated monastery -
facilitate the Patriarch, abandoned dedicated to the Life-Giving Spring
his position and returned to and dissolved in 1834 by decree of
Athens slandered and persecuted. the Bavarians - in Aegina.

He was appointed director of the

Rizareio School in 1894. His work
at the school was organizational,
educational, pedagogical and
writing. He organized the School
on the basis of Orthodox
ecclesiastical tradition. And the
most important thing was his
pedagogical thought, which
contributed greatly to the reform
of the school, so that the graduates
would be excellent theologians
and educators.He remained there
for 14 years, while he signed his
resignation which was accepted in
1908 for health reasons (having
suffered for years from prostate
disease).When at some point the
Saint met Chrysanthi Strongylou When the Saint also visited that
(later Abbess Xeni), a blind and place, it was decided to repair the
pious woman, the first stone was old buildings of the monastery and
laid for the creation of the to put the monastery back into
monastery in Aegina. Chrysanthi, operation. Work for this purpose
began in 1904, and the monastery
- 72 -

Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

would be dedicated to the Holy with the significant amount for the
Trinity.The Saint from Athens - he time, 250 drachmas per month.
was still the director at Rizareio -
guided the nuns and whenever he 3. HOLY MONASTRY MOTHER
found time he visited the OF GOD “ZIDANIOU”
monastery where he was to spend P.C.50500
the last years of his life. Mikrovaltos Kozani
Tel.: 2464051210
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ft3umAF
THjXQWRZN9

The most important relic of the

monastery is the icon of “Panagia,
After four years, having now Pantanassa”.
decided to retire to the monastery In 1854 the monastery was
of Aegina and deal with its completely destroyed by the Turks
organization and the spiritual in retaliation for a revolutionary
guidance of the nuns who staffed movement in the area.
it, he submitted his resignation to The monastery was also destroyed
the board of directors of Rizareio by the Nazis in 1940 and by the
on February 7, 1908. The earthquake in 1995.
resignation was accepted by the Hope unashamed, the grace of the
board, which retired him - as a Virgin restored it with the holy
minimal recognition of his work - nuns Mariam and Theoktistis.
- 73 -

Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

 4. HOLY MONASTERY OF
SAINT ANTHONY (MENS)

Siapka-Kastania, Servia
Kozanis,
P.C. 50500 Tel. 6979851211

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9RqhoJup7N
NQuESQ6

The miraculous icon of It is a monument of the

the Virgin Mary that heals ecclesiastical and monastic life
everyone from every kind of the wider region of Serbia.
of covid flu Unfortunately, historical
sources or other clear
testimonies about the exact
time of foundation of the
Monastery of Saint Antonios of
Siapka have not been
preserved. However, it is
estimated by the researchers
- 74 -

Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

that the monastery was built in In the year 311, during the
the late Byzantine times persecution of the emperor
around the 13th century. Maximinus (307-313), he came
to Alexandria to encourage and
help the faithful of the local
church.
When the persecution ceased,
Antony returned to the desert.
However, he felt disturbed by
the presence of many believers
who went to meet him, so he
sought a new refuge at Mount
Colxim on the Red Sea.
Even there, however, many
Christians came to receive his
blessing and to be healed. His
fame reached even the upper
echelons of the empire.
Constantine the Great and his
sons, Constantius and
Constans, corresponded
regularly with him and
At the age of 20 he lost both consulted him on various
his parents. Six months later he matters.
distributed his possessions to During his ascetic life he never
the poor and retired to a changed his clothes, nor did he
desert cave, where he lived an wash his body or feet with
ascetic life for 25 consecutive water.
years. His fame soon spread in He taught his disciples not to
the local churches, and many consider anything higher than
Christians fled to the same the love of Christ and not to
area to become ascetics and think that because they abstain
listen to his teaching.
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

from worldly goods, they are It is located approximately 40
deprived of something km
worthwhile. To leave earthly southwest of Kozani and about
goods, he said, is like scorning 15 km from Aiani, on the left
a copper coin to gain a bank of Aliakmonas in a
hundred gold coins. He landscape of infinite beauty.
emphasized that we should not Oral tradition says that the
forget that human life is Monastery of Larios was built
temporary compared to in the 11th century.
eternal life and that we should
not strive to acquire temporal
goods, which we cannot take
with us.

5. HOLY TRINITY MONASTERY

OF LARIO (MEN)
P.C 50004
Aiani Kozani
Tel.: 2461098209
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GWSZutqPs
nvKi7tm8

THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY

TRINITY
A Triune God with three
hypostases

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

 Historical Monument
The monastery of Saint
Athanasios dates back to the
Byzantine era. It was probably
built at the expense of the
Byzantine kings, as was
customary at that time. It was
probably built before 1600,
while after 1700 its period of
great prosperity began.

The monastery has from time to

time suffered many damages
from fires and raids. He had a
Archimandrite Hilarion large library with many
Karagiannis has been Abbot of manuscripts, some of which are
the Monastery for more than 60 now in the National Library.
years. This fact proves that the monks
were highly educated. He was
6. HOLY MONASTERY OF SAINT engaged in the painting of
ATHANASIOS frescoes and portable images,
but no signature has been
Eratyra, Kozani preserved anywhere.
Tel.: 2465031570
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LXN4LCyTUF
zVYQQf7

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

In the 19th century the
monastery declined. In the first
decades after liberation, the
building, which was in a very
bad condition, was demolished.
To the west of the monastery, a
new guest house was built,
which was used as a guest
house and recreation area,
since the monastery is located Saint Athanasios the Great
in a very beautiful natural
landscape. This building has
recently been reconstructed.
Around 1970, a new guest
house was built in order to
stimulate tourist traffic to the
monastery.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

7. HOLY MONASTERY OF Saint minutes from the town of
KOSMAS OF AETOLOS Ptolemaida.
ARDASSAS

P.C 50200 Ardassa

Ptolemaidas, Kozani

Tel.: 6974934542

https://maps.app.goo.gl/A3wx4b3
nGNm9UKUL6

The monastery celebrates

August 24.

Saint Kosmas the Aetolos

Saint Kosmas was a light-bearing

apostle of the Gospel, in the dark
years of Turkish slavery. The
Church of Christ, to honor his
struggle and contribution, named
The holy Monastery of Agios him Isapostolos.Agios Kosmas was
Kosmas of Aitolos Ardassis was born in the village of Taxiarchis in
founded by the Most Reverend the province of Apokoros, which is
Metropolitan Theokletos in 2004. located near the village of Megalo
It is built on the slopes of Mount Dendro Nafpaktia, in 1714 AD, to
Askion, between the villages of pious parents, who raised him in
Ardassa and Kryovrysi and is 10 the education and admonition of
the Lord.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

At the age of twenty, he went to 8. HOLY MONASTERY OF
Mount Athos, to study at the newly SAINTS “ANARGIRI”
founded school of Vatopedi. St.
Kosmas was originally called Kastoria prefecture
Konstantinos and after his
Melissotopos, P.C. 52052
graduation, he went to the
Tel.: 2467098309
Philotheu Monastery, where he
https://maps.app.goo.gl/C3LXEhQRb
became a monk (1759 AD) and YnP7THN6
then Hieromonk and received the
name Kosmas.From wherever he
passed, he built schools, churches,
and multitudes of people attended
his holy teaching.Finally, the envy
of the Jews, in collaboration with
the Turks, resulted in the hanging
of the Saint in Kolikondasi, in the
lands of Northern Epirus in 1779
AD. His remains were thrown into
the waters of the river Apsos. The Monastery of Saints
“Anargyroi” is the oldest in the
Despite the stone tied around his
prefecture of Kastoria and is
neck, the relic floated. He was
found by priest Markos and buried
located on the site of an older
in the monastery of Theotokou one that was founded in the
Ardonitsa B. Epirus, where it was time of Alexios I Comnenus
found. (1080) and was originally
dedicated to Agios
Panteleimon.

In 1457 it was reconstituted and

dedicated to AgioiAnargyroi.

The contribution of the

monastery to the Macedonian
Struggle was great with the help
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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

the monks offered to the groups 9. HOLY MONASTERY OF
of Macedonian fighters Saint Nikolaos Tsirilovou
operating in their areas. P.C.52200
3 km Korisos – Germa Kastoria
Tel.: 24670-51228
https://maps.app.goo.gl/sWG
mwzHoLoro9a4d7

The monastery is located 19 km

from Kastoria near the
settlement of Agios Nikolaos
amidst lush green nature.
It is celebrated on May 20, the
day of the harvest of the holy
The pair of fellow doctors who relics of Agios Nikolaos, bishop
treated all mental and physical of Myron of Lycia.
illnesses without salary in the The monastery hosted the hero
suffering brothers. Pavlos Melas and was a
stronghold of many chieftains
The monastery celebrates on during the Macedonian War.
July 1st and November 1st The monastery houses a
miraculous icon of Agios
Nikolaos as well as a holy relic
of Agios Nikolaos.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Agios Nikolaos is one of the and received an excellent
most popular saints in the education.
Christian world. His memory is
celebrated on December 6. After distributing his property
to the poor, he was ordained a
priest and fought for the
spread of the Christian faith,
while protecting every weak,
suffering or wronged person.
His ascension to the
archbishopric of Myra in Lycia
(present-day Demre, Turkey)
provoked the wrath of the
pagans, who arrested him and
subjected him to torture. He
was released after the rise of
Constantine the Great and
devoted himself to his pastoral
work.
He took part and excelled in
the First Ecumenical Council of
Nicaea (325), where Christian
doctrine was largely shaped,
with the condemnation of the
Arian heresy.

He was imprisoned a second

time by Constantine the Great
Nicholas was born on March
because he dared and publicly
15, 270 in Patara, Lycia
beat the impious Arius in front
(present-day Gelemis, Turkey)
of him.
to pious and wealthy parents

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

However, Christ himself and is 10 minutes from the city
justified him by giving him his of Florina.
episcopal ordination in prison.
He fell asleep in peace on Heroes of the Macedonian
December 6, 343. After his struggle were hosted in the
repose, his holy head exuded monastery. The monastery
myrrh. operates as a commune and
celebrates on April 25th in
10.HOLY MONASTERY OF Saint Mark the Apostle and
SAINT MARK Evangelist.

Proti Florina
P.C 53100
Tel:2385037944
https://maps.app.goo.gl/w4H19h
eEwTtjJayW7

Lion next to the Evangelist

symbol of strength.

Mark wrote the second Gospel

in the New Testament around
The Holy Monastery is built in 65 AD and is the shortest of the
the Varnountos mountain four and is known as the Gospel
range, at an altitude of 959m of the miracles of Jesus.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

In Mark's house in Jerusalem, the "paroxysm" among the
most important events associated apostles.
with the Son of God Jesus and the
founding of the first Church on the Eventually, the Apostle
Barnabas charted a different
day of Pentecost took place.
missionary path than Paul.
He was a follower of St. Paul and
He and his nephew Mark
St. Barnabas on Paul's first tour
traveled to Cyprus and
of Asia Minor.During their Alexandria, Egypt.Mark is
ordained the first patriarch of
journey to Asia Minor, when
Alexandria.
they were about to cross a huge
In 49 AD, the First Apostolic
mountain called "Taurus", Mark
Council took place, resolving
became discouraged and lost the issue of the Apostle Mark
"...of the Gentile Christians",
his courage, resulting in him
which was the real reason for
abandoning the missionary Mark's separation from the first
Apostolic tour of the Apostle
group and returning to
Paul.
Jerusalem.On the second tour
of the Apostle Paul, Barnabas
insists on giving Mark a second
chance and taking him back
with them. Paul did not accept,
Barnabas insists, resulting in a

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

11. HOLY CONGREGATIONAL
WOMEN'S MONASTERY OF SAINT
AUGUSTINE FLORINA

Florina, tel.: 23850-28610

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BB8rAPACEN
EbubYH8

Saint Augustine (also called

Aurelius) was born in Tagaste,
Numidia, Africa, in the year 354 AD
to a fervent Christian mother,
Monica (honored on May 4) and a
pagan father, Patrick.

As a young student he lived a

dissolute life, from which he also
had an illegitimate child. In Africa,
The monastery was founded by
he became a follower of
the Metropolitan of Florina, Manichaeism, but when he later
Augustine, in 1999. The arrived in Milan, his mother's
monastery contains the tomb fervent all-night prayers, his own
of the metropolitan and its careful study of the Holy Scriptures
founder. and the fiery sermons of the
Bishop of Milan Ambrose, brought
Augustine to Christianity. He asked
to be catechized and was baptized
a Christian along with his 15-year-
old son Adeodatus.

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace

Later he returned to Africa
where he taught and fervently
spread Christianity and after
the death of his mother he went
to Rome. When in 391 AD
visited some of his friends in
Hippo (on the coast of
Numidia), the bishop of the city,
appreciating his rich gifts, his
passion for teaching and his
profound theological
knowledge, ordained him a
presbyter and later an assistant
bishop. After the death of
Valerius, he succeeded him on
the throne of the Bishopric of
Hippo in 396 AD.

He shepherded his flock with

prudence and discernment for 34
full years and fell asleep peacefully
at the age of 76, on 28 August 430
AD

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Monasteries and Pilgrimages of Macedonia and Thrace