It was founded in the 10th century by the Byzantine official I. Tornikios and is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
A gentle legend brings to life the icon of a humble chapel, out of the 16 that belong to the monastery: a Byzantine woman from Nikaia of Asia Minor, during the period of iconoclasm, to save the icon of the Virgin, threw it into the sea. The icon appeared after 70 years offshore Athos, at the base of a burning sky flame. A virtuous ascetic walked in the waves at the instigation of the Virgin Mary and brought it to the monastery. But story does not end here. The icon insisted on leaving the sanctuary of the Catholic, appearing on the door of the gate, where the chapel of Portaitissa was finally made. Once Arabs stepped into the monastery and one of them pierced the picture with his sword, blood came out. The invader, shocked, remained in the service of the Virgin Mary, Saint Varvaros.
Something also unexpected, encountered by the pilgrim in the monastery, is the combination of ancient wisdom and the Byzantine mystery: the ancient wise Greek Solon, Sophocles, Thucydides, Plato, Aristotle and Plutarch as well as the kings Alexander and Darius are depicted in the narthex of the chapel. The monastery was also an important spiritual center in the 16th century, so cultured monks, such as Pachomios Rousanos, Simeon Kavasilas and Theofanis Eleavoulkos, served at its rooms.
The sacristy holds invaluable treasures, among which the Sack of Tsimiskis, decorated with lions and two-headed eagles, a 15th-century pontifical garment.
Become a member of the Index of Companies and Professionals
