Description of the attraction
Skopelos Island is considered to be one of the most beautiful Greek islands. Its picturesque cliffs and mountains covered with pine forests, olive groves, magnificent beaches and cozy coves annually attract a huge number of tourists to the island from all over the world. Skopelos is also famous for the abundance of beautiful churches, monasteries and chapels, of which there are more than three hundred on such a small island.
One of the most famous and interesting temples on the island of Skopelos is the Evangelistria Monastery. It is located about 3-4 km east of the capital of the island on the side of a mountain in an amazingly picturesque place. The Evangelistria Monastery is one of the most significant monuments of the post-Byzantine period in Skopelos.
The Evangelistria Monastery was built at the beginning of the 18th century by monks from the Sacred Mount Athos on the foundations of an old Byzantine temple. In the second half of the 18th century, with the financial support of the local noble family Daponte, restoration work was carried out in the temple. Outwardly, the monastery looks more like a fortress, the massive walls of which were designed to protect the holy monastery from possible attacks and intruders. The dome of the monastery catholicon is decorated with golden leaves made by craftsmen from Istanbul. A beautiful carved iconostasis of the 18th century and magnificent Byzantine and post-Byzantine icons, which are of high artistic and historical value, have survived to our times (some icons date back to the 14th century).
Today, only a few nuns live on the territory of the monastery. They make interesting handicrafts, among which woven tapestries are especially impressive. All items can be bought in a small church shop.
