HOLY MONASTERY OF THE EVANGELISTRIA OF SKIATHOS

The monastery began to be built in 1794 by a small group of monks from the common movement of the "Kolluvades". These monks, being forced to leave Mount Athos due to the upheaval then present, took advantage of the day during Lent to properly complete the monuments, on Saturday, instead of Sunday.

The leader of this group of monks was the Hieromonk Niphon, known worldwide as Nikolaos "ek tis geneas ton Nikolaradon", born in 1736 in Patras of Chios. Niphon, leaving due to the troubles of the "Kolluvades" from Mount Athos, founded in 1775, in Ikaria, the Monastery of the Evangelistria. Among the monks of the Evangelistria of Ikaria was also the Gregorios Chatzestamatis, Skiathite, who, after the death of his father, inherited his large property in Skiathos. Having this large property, Gregorios persuaded Niphon to move to the barren Skiathos and build a new Monastery, which in 1797 took the status of a Stavropegiacal Monastery.

The construction of the monastery complex was completed in 1806 and it became the center of the "Kolluvades", as during its duration it also published its chronicles. The spirit of these "Kolluvades" strongly influenced the life of the locals of Skiathos, but also the Skiathite writer Alexandros Papadiamantis, as well as the Skiathite poet Alexandros Moraitidis, who in the end of his life received the Monastic Habit and the name Andronikos.

The Monastery of Evangelistria supported important ethical and material revolutionary movements, as well as the revolution of 1821. In this context, in 1807 it planned, wove, blessed, and raised the first Greek Flag with the white Cross on a blue background. In this, Niphon swore his officers Theodoros Kolokotronis, Andreas Miaoulis, Papathymios Vlachavas, Giannis Stathas, Nikotsaras, the Skiathite teacher of Genous Epifanio-Stefano Demetradis, and many others, after a large discussion that took place in the Monastery of the Evangelistria, to implement their planned actions.

In the archive library are kept many Sacred Writings: Holy vessels, vestments, discs, and linens, gifts of individuals, silver crosses, exapteryga, and three gospels with binding (one from 1539). In the library, patriarchal molybdenum, seals and letters, 107 manuscripts of the last three centuries, as well as books of the 17^th and 18^th centuries, letters of Saint Nikodimos of Agioreitou etc.

Feasts of festivals: Annunciation of Theotokos (25/3), Dormition of Theotokos (15/8) and the chapels: Ag. Demetriou, Tim. Prodromou and Zood.

Celebrated: Archimandrite Iosif Katsouras (monk 8).

Telephone: 24270. 22012 - FAX: 24270.29085

Website: http://www.evagelistria.com.gr/

Email : info@monievaggelistrias.gr

Postal Address: 370 02 Skiathos.