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Convent of Pammegiston Taxiarhon in Aigialeia

COUNTY: Achaea MUNICIPALITY: Aigialeia

Clouds
18.17ºC

Type

Nunnery

TL;DR

Visit the Pammegiston Taxiarhon monastery where you can see parts from the True Cross, the Crown of Thorns and other spiritual treasures.

This stauropegic convent is located 15km south of Aigio in a beautiful verdant landscape with cascading waters, on the right bank of Selinos river. To reach the monastery you need to take the road from Aigio leading to Kouloura and Mavrikios (Vovodas) villages, which runs along the river.

The monastery was built in 1450 by saint Leontios Monemvasiotis in a different location. The contribution of the Palaiologos family was crucial, as they gave him an immense spiritual treasure: parts from the True Cross, the Crown of Thorns, the robe, the Reed, the holy sponge and the nails from the cross, all intact. A monastery was founded to be destroyed twice by the Turks, in 1500 and in 1620. In 1700 it was built to its actual location and was dedicated to archangels Michael and Gabriel. It was destroyed once more by the Turk-Albanians in 1772. Its catholicon is cross-shaped with four columns and an octagonal dome.

The monastery and the monks played an important role during the Greek Revolution in 1821, by offering material help and ready-to-fight monks, who participated in the siege of fortress in Patras. The monastery was a depot for ammunition and food.

After the independence of Greece, the monastery thrived having in its orders more than 150 monks who assisted and helped the poor. Although, the monastery has fewer monks today, it continues its longstanding social work. Among other things, the monks make a special sweet, called rodozahari from the roses they cultivate.

The monastery celebrates on the feast of Taxiarhon, on 8 November, and on 11 December, the feast of its founder, saint Leontios.

You can visit the monastery every day, except from 13:00-16:00 in winter and from 13:00-17:00 in summer.

Tel: 0030 26910 56300, 26910 56515