The two monasteries surrounding Xanthi are built on the beautiful green slopes with panoramic views of the northern Aegean Sea.
The monastery of Panagia Archangeliotissa was dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, and is located right above the Samakov district. It was completely destroyed in the 1829 earthquake and was rebuilt a few years later in 1841, when it was brought to its present form. The cloister of the monastery – located behind and below the holy step – dates from 1000 to 1100CE. The monastery is mentioned in codes and canon books of 1559. It was named after the miraculous icon depicting the Virgin Mary among archangels Gabriel and Michael, and celebrates on the 15th of August. In the eastern wing is the ecclesiastical museum of the metropolis, with rare portable icons, ecclesiastical heirlooms, vestments and functional utensils from all the parishes of Xanthi dating from the 17th to the early 20th century.
Northwest of Archangeliotissa is Panagia Kalamiotissa, which took its name when an icon of Virgin Mary was found in the reeds. It was probably founded during the iconoclasm period (726-843CE) by monks who came from Byzantium, but the earliest written testimony of the monastery is contained in an ecclesiastic code of 1612. A 1645 evangelion (gospel) with silver lining is dedicated to this monastery, that was made in Venice and today is kept in the Metropolitan Church of Xanthi.
Info
Monasteries are open from sunrise to sunset.
If you want to visit the ecclesiastical museum you should call at +30 25410 29799.