Description of the attraction
One of the most famous and revered shrines of the Greek island of Lesvos is undoubtedly the active Moni Ipsilou monastery, dedicated to John the Evangelist. The monastery is located in the western part of the island, about 80 km from the administrative center of Lesvos, the town of Mytilene, and just a few kilometers from the town of Sigri. It is located on the top of Mount Ordimnos at 634 m above sea level and is a huge impressive fortress.
It is believed that the monastery was founded in the 7th century by a monk who fled from Syria. Unfortunately, only fragments of the original building of the Byzantine era have survived to this day, and very little information about the early history of the monastery has survived. In the first written sources known today, the holy monastery is referred to as the "Korakas monastery", while during the years of Turkish rule on the island it was known as the "Zisira monastery". The name "Moni Ipsilu" was assigned to the monastery in the 18th century due to its location, as translated from Greek "ypsilo" means "tall". It is known that by the end of the Byzantine period the monastery was abandoned and destroyed. In the 16th century, the monastery was restored, and for some time it flourished, after which it was thoroughly destroyed by fire and rebuilt again. The Catholicon of today's monastery was built in 1832.
You should definitely visit the entertaining museum of the monastery, which displays a collection of various church relics and works of art dating back to the 16-17th centuries, as well as climb the monastery bell tower and fully enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views, including the coast of Asia Minor in good weather. The monastery is famous for its own excellent library, which houses an impressive archive of important historical documents and unique manuscripts.
