SIGHTS-CHURCHES

Please choose a church from the map in order to learn more about.

MANDAMADOS

Monastery of Taxiarchis Michael in Mandamados : It is situated on the suburbs of the small town Mandamados, at the site "Lesvados". It is a Byzantine Monastery abandoned -probably - with the island's occupation by the Ottomans in 14762. It has kept the tradition of the Monastery since then, while the cells and the garden keep the Monastery's structure too. The Cathedral has been rebuilt since the year 1879. During the middle of the 19th century there were few monks - as we are informed by the relative ecclesiastical codes. Among the old holy icons one - curved - is distinguished: it is placed inside a glass box, in front of the iconostasis at the Southern isle, and it represent the Archangel Michael. According to the tradition it was made of clay and the blood of the slaughtered monks during the Monastery's destruction by the Turks.

    This holy icon creates fear and respect as it represents the Archangel with a strict expression, big eyed and its black color because of time, with a big face, the scaring sword and the gold-plated wings. On the upper side of the icon there is an arch full of tiny holy paintings that  represent various religious performances. The particular icon, which is the main pole that attracts the pilgrims, is of pure Byzantine art as it has been sculptured on the basis of relative standards. Also the Monastery holds like a national and religious treasure, the ……… of. The church celebrates on Sunday of Myrophores with a great religious and commercial festivity, accompanied by a bull's sacrifice and the preparation of the traditional dish "kiskek" ( meat cooked with grain ) that is served traditionally to the pilgrims. Also worth noticing is the icon of the Archangel (with gigantic dimension) at the main entrance of the Monastery and the garden that surrounds it, full of green, artistic paved paths, fountains etc. 

    The church of Ayios Stephanos at Mantamados: It is at the eastern part of the island, near the small town of Mantamados. It is a cruciform basilica, built in the post Byzantine period. It is very small and was constructed from pink trachyte rock. Initially it had a dome, which collapsed in the 19th century. The roof has been reconstructed with wooden beams and tiles by the villagers. At the eastern part of the church there are three small arches. Another relatively recent construction is the porch. Incorporated in the walls of the church are parts of an older church and a Roman inscription.