HISTORY OF THE HOLY MONASTERY OF SAINT NICHOLAS GALATAKI OF LIMNI, EVIA

A. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MONASTERY

The topography of the area. The historic Monastery of Saint Nicholas, called Galataki, is located on the southwestern slopes of the steep Kandili Mountain in Northern Evia. Its sacred structure rises on a natural plateau of a few acres, situated 120 m above sea level and accessible only from the west.

The monastery is surrounded, in its immediate perimeter, by olive groves totaling 40 acres, while the wider perimeter is occupied by a forest under ownership, extending over the northern, northeastern, and northwestern slopes and ridges of Kandili. In the eastern olive grove of the monastery, 200 meters from its enclosure, there is the cave-like chapel of Saint Andrew, with fragments of frescoes, likely from the early 17^th century. Northwest, a few meters from its enclosure, there is a modern chapel dedicated to Saint Nektarios, while to the west, 200 meters away, rises a steep rock called Korakolithos. According to recorded tradition, pirates ambushed and killed a monk/guard on this rock, formerly used as a lookout. Today, the rock is marked with a large white cross, placed in the 1970s through the efforts of the late Abbess Theoktisti.

West of the monastery, twelve kilometers away, lies the picturesque town of Limni, capital of the current Kapodistrian Municipality of Elymnion. North, just behind the Kandili mountain mass, is the settlement of Troupi, and northwest is Spathari. To the south, the wide Evian lagoon stretches, with a coastal fault starting from the eastern seashore of Kandili and ending at the western seashore of Telethrio Mountain, considered the deepest point in the Evian Gulf. Therefore, from Galataki Monastery, one has an obligatory view toward the southern and western horizons, as it is surrounded to the north and east by the Kandili mountain mass.

The pilgrim wishing to visit the historic monastery today has at their disposal a half-asphalted carriage road, which starts from the beach of Limni and passes through the picturesque locations: Katounia, Marantza, and Agios Georgios, ending at the monastery entrance. Other access roads, simple forest roads connecting to surrounding mountain settlements, are rarely used today due to poor condition and dangerous spots caused by cross-sections in the road, while the path to Troupi (3 hours on foot) is impassable during winter.

Abbess: Nun Mariam Panourgia (6 nuns)

Phone: 22270.31489.

Postal Address: 340 05 Limni.