HOLY MONASTERY OF SAINT GEORGE OF ILIA

The year of the Monastery’s foundation is officially recorded as 1670, while according to local tradition it dates back to the 13^th century. It is built at an altitude of 450 m on Mount Valantio, with a magnificent view of the northern Euboean Gulf, northeast of the seaside village of Ilia, at a distance of 13 km from the Baths of Aidipsos.

The Monastery experienced great development during the first centuries of its life. Following the idiorrhythmic system, up to 300 monks practiced asceticism around it, living in huts and “monks’ houses,” as local tradition mentions. They celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and major feasts in the Katholikon of Saint George, of cross-in-square architectural style, with an elaborate iconostasis from the mid-17th century, full of depictions and scenes from Holy Scripture and renowned icons of the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Monastery became a place of refuge and protection for many Christians, especially scholars, during the difficult years of the Occupation. It is particularly beloved by the residents of the wider area.

For centuries a men’s monastery, in 1970 it was converted into a women’s monastery under Metropolitan Nikolaos of Chalkis (Selentis). The present sisterhood under Abbess Pelagia, with the generous support of many pilgrims, renovated and beautified the monastery buildings. In recent years, the construction of a new large Church dedicated to Saint Nina has begun.

Precious relics of the Saints are preserved here: George, Marina, Mamas and Kyriaki.

Feast Days: Saint George (23/4 and Translation of his Relics 3/11). Saint Charalambos (10/2), Saint Irene Chrysovalantou (28/7) and Saint Paraskevi (26/7).

Abbess: Nun Chrysostomi (8 nuns).

Telephone: 22260.22384.

Postal Address: 343 00 Ilia L. Aidipsos.