Panayia Myrtidiotissa
The Holy Monastery of Myrtidia seats the most important heirloom of Kytherian tradition and heritage. Since its foundation, the icon of Panayia Myrtidiotissa has been the symbol of the Orthodox Faith for thousands of Kytherians. Faith, remembrance and reverence as embodied and represented by this icon has accompanied Kytherians to all corners of the world, making Panayia Myrtidiotissa the protector of all Kytherians. The monastery is on the Western part of the island, just below the village of Kalokerines. The monastery’s surroundings instill the visitor with a sense of devoutness and awe. Inside the monastery’s garden, by the stairs outside the church’s central nave, the sensation of a holy power relates piece, love and harmony.
According to local legend, a shepherd once kept his sheep in this area. One day, while tending his sheep, he discovered an icon standing next to a myrtle bush. The shepherd took the icon home. However, at night while he was sleeping, the icon returned to the myrtle. One night an angel visited the shepherd’s dream and told him that Our Lady wanted him to build her a small church on that spot, next to the myrtle.
You can visit this small church today; it stands right below the new church which was built in the 19th century. The church of Panayia Mirtidiotissa is surrounded by many cells. There is a traditional custom held every year in Kythera, locally termed “dekapentismos”. Every summer, from 1st August through until 15th August, the day of celebration of the Assumption of Mary, believers swarm to the Monasteries of Panayia, Agia Elessa and Agia Moni in order to stay in these cells during this period, fasting and attending the holy ceremony and the monasteries' program. You may take information from the Holy Diocese of Kythera in case you want to participate in the “dekapentismos” custom.
Visit Stavros (the Cross), a seaman's solemn pledge that dominates the mountain above the monastery, and enjoy the view. Also, you take your car down the difficult dirt road to the west of the monastery, on the west coast where the small church of Agios Nikolas Krassas is situated. The sunset seen from here is sublime. You can also spend the night in Limnaria, a small harbor to the Northwest of the monastery.
Agia Elessa
Above the village Livadi, on the mountain which resembles a ship, lies the Holy Monastery of Agia Elessa. Agia Elessa suffered martyrdom on this mountain. Daughter of Elladios, a rich ruler from Peloponnese, she converted to Christianity. Persecuted by her father for her choice, she fled to the island in order to become a nun. Coming to Kythera in search of her, he killed her on the island in 375 A.D. In 1871, atop the place of the martyrdom and the ruins of an older temple, a new church of basilica single-space architecture and around it the cells, the house of the abbot and other auxiliary areas were built. Today it has approximately 20 cells in which believers stay during “dekapentismos”. The believers celebrate the memory of the Saint on 1st August, i.e. the day that the “dekapentismos” custom begins. The monastery also offers an amazing view of almost the whole island and the Southeastern coasts.
Agia Moni
The monastery of Agia Moni is located in the East of Kythera, on the mountain chain above Diakofti. Since the old times it has held a small holy icon-stand in the name of Our Lady, and recieved its name "Agia Moni" due to its distance and isolation. On 23 September 1767, a shepherd by name of Viaros found a two-sided icon with Our Lady with the inscription “□ Μόνη τ□ν πάντων ελπίς” (the only hope of everything), and of Agios Georgios in nearby bushes. A thunderbolt had struck the area and everything was destroyed except of the icon. The bishop of Kythera, Nikiforos Mormoris, visited the place and, upon seeing the ruins of the small church and the cells, together with the commissioners and priest decided to build a monastery. In 1803 Theodoros Kolokotronis stayed in Kythera, where he had friendly relationships with the Alvanakis family.
In his memoirs, the Old Man of Moreas wrote: “Once I went to the celebration of Agia Moni. The monastery was big and was destroyed during the first Turkish occupation. When I passed by, there was a damaged fence and the church had been damaged by tree branches. It was then I vowed that “My Lady help us free our Fatherland from the Tyrant and I will repair you as you was always (1803). She helped me and in the second year of our revolution I paid the vow and repaired her….”
Renovation works and the monastery's extension were carried out in the 19th century. The gorgeous belfry carved from porous stone started being constructed in 1848. The temple’s architecture is single-roomed basilica. The church’s façade is impressive. In the surrounding area, admire the view of Diakofti and Cape Maleas to the North, while from the other side of the church you can survey all of the island's Eastern coast including the fields of Paleopolis and the village of Avlemonas. The “dekapentismos” custom is carried out in the monastery, during which the believers stay in the cells from 1st August through to the celebration of the Assumption on 15th August. Agia Moni celebrates on August 6th.
Osios Theodoros
Osios (Blessed) Theodoros is the protector of Kythera. He was born in Koroni at the end of the 9th century. He grew up in Nafplio, where he married and had two children. His warmest desire was to become a monk. He went to Rome and later on to Monemvassia in order to reside in the cell of Theotokos tis Diakonias, “Virgin Mary of Beggary”. In approximately 921 he came to Kythera, which by this time had been virtually devastated by the raids of Saracens of Crete. He stayed as a monk in the old church of Saints Sergios and Bacchus. On 12 May 922, Osios Theodoros died. Sometime after his death, passing-by seamen found his dead, almost unblemished body and laid it to rest there. The old church was rebuilt between the 12th and the 13th century by technicians from Monemvassia and was devoted to the memory of Osios Theodoros. In the passing of years, this church was converted to a monastery. In 1630 the church was renovated by the Bishop of Kythera, Athanassios Valerianos. The monastery is situated outside the village of Logothetianika. In the area is also an English school which has been reconstructed and now operates as lounge and museum.
Agios Georgis (Saint George) on the Mountain
This is a small church, built on the mountain located between the one of Agia Moni and Avlemonas. There are two churches: the Eastern is dedicated to Agios Georgios, a single-roomed, arched church with a mosaic floor from the 7th century. The Western church, also single-roomed with a Kytherian-style dome, is dedicated to Panayia Mirtidiotissa and Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas), and boasts typical Kytherian architecture. Excavations in the area discovered a Minoan mountain-top temple. A small excursion is suggested in order to enjoy the view.
Agios Andreas
One of the island’s most important churches, located in Livadi. The cruciform church with a dome in its middle has gone through five building stages. It has three layers of wall paintings: The first layer is of the 10th - 11th century, the second of the 13th century and the third layer is comprised of post-Byzantine wall paintings of the 16th century. The church is situated in the center of the village Livadi.
Agios Dimitrios in Pourko
Agios Dimitrios is situated in Pourko, between the villages of Livadi and Agia Elessa. It is a complex of four churches that between themselves form a quadrangle, with the entrance at the Western side. The Southern church is dedicated to Agios Dimitrios, the Northeastern to Our Lady, the Northern to Agios Nikolaos and the Southeastern to Archangel Michael or to Agios Vassilios. This architectural eccentricity is not found anywhere else and remains unique to this complex. Three layers of wall paintings have been preserved. Of these, the most important is the second layer, which was completed by a painter known under the name Dimitrios. An inscription states “Of Dimitrios, the sinful humble archdeacon from Monemvassia”.
Agios Petros
The church is situated in the village of Arei. It is cruciform with an octagonal dome, does not hold a church-porch and dates back to the 13th century. Layers of Byzantine and post-Byzantine wall paintings are preserved.
Agia Varvara
Agia Varvara is located in the island’s Byzantine capital city, Agios Dimitrios, today’s Paleohora. The temple is cruciform with a dome, without wall paintings. It was built in the 13th century by craftsmen from Monemvassia. The roofing with the slate of local origin is characteristic, which is called “heloplaka”.
Agios Ioannis on the Cliff
This church is situated on a rocky slope above Kapsali, at an altitude of approximately 60 meters. Agios Ioannis is a church - cave, on which a pilgrim lodging with two cells and a kitchen has been built . The original lodging was possibly built in the 17th century, while the monastery’s renovation was carried out in 1725 as stated by the inscription at the monastery’s entrance. Legend has it that Ioannis started writing his Apocalypse in this cave before going to Patmos.
Agioi Anargiroi
The monastery was built in 1825 by the priest Megalokonomos, in the area of Xiroulaki near the village of Drimonas. The priest, according to legend, was trying to collect money for the church's construction. Seeking help in Constantinople, he met a pirate who told him that he had hidden two small pots with various jewelry, coins and other valuable items on Melidoni Beach, describing to him their excact location. The priest returned to Kythera and, following the pirate's directions, found one pot. With this treasure he managed to build the church. At the top of the bell tower he placed the pot, as decoration and an expression of gratitude. The monastery is privately owned. Ownership is passed on to any offspring of Megalokonomos or Metaxas family who decides to become a priest.
Panayia Orfani of Mylopotamos
The church is situated near Mylopotamos, 3 kilometers Northwestern from the village, above a lush green gully. The church is built inside a cave of 8 km length and 7 m width. Cells are located at the precinct. A small icon of Panayia Eleousa was found in this area, under the name Orfani (Orphan). The church has a threefold dedication, with the icon to the middle representing Theotokos (she who has given birth to God), to the left Agios Georgios and to the right the Saints Protectors of Eptanissa islands, Spiridonas, Dionissios and Gerassimos. The memory of Panayia Orfani is celebrated on 15th August.
Panayia Myrtidiotissa and Panayia Orfani in the Castle
Built the Venetians in 1580 in the Castle of Hora, it was a Catholic church was dedicated to “Our Lady of the Latins”. In 1806 it was consecrated as an Orthodox church in the name of Panayia Myrtidiotissa. The icon of Panayia Myrtidiotissa was kept in this church for almost two centuries, due to fear of theft by pirates. In 1842 the icon returned to the monastery of Myrtidia. Next to the large church is the small church of “Panayia Orfani”, which belonged to Kallonas family. The icon and the heirlooms of the Agarathos Monastery of Heraclio, Crete, were kept there for 300 years, when Crete was occupied by the Turks.
Agios Panteleimonas in Paleopolis
A small, single-roomed church that preserves an early-Christian basilical arch, it is arch-covered and situated in Paleopolis. Maintenance and protection works are carried out today by the 1st Supervision of Byzantine Antiquities.
Estavromenos (Crucified) in Hora - Kythera Metropolitan Church
The Estavromenos church was built approximately in 1660, by the Bishop of Kythera Filotheos Darmaros. A church had pre-existed at this point. An walled ownership inscription with the Darmaros family coat-of-arms stands in the church’s entrance. The church is dedicated to the Crucifixion, which is celebrated on Good Friday with the introit “You purchased us from the curse of the law….”. During Lent, the church traditionally hosts the icon of Panayia Myrtidiotissa. The icon stays there through the Monday of “Diakenissimos” and is placed in its holy icon stand, specially constructed in 1806 by an artist from Zakinthos.
Agios Nikon
A Byzantine church situated near the village of Potamos that consists of a domed, single room. This architecture, shared with ten other churches on the island, is unique to Kythera.
