Religious Tour Itinerary

WE HAVE A ONE DAY RELIGIOUS EXCURSION | PAY A VISIT TO THE AGIOS IOANNIS ROSOS CHURCH, THEN VIST AND STAY FOR 1 HOUR AT OSIOS LOUKAS MONASTERY AND FINALLY STOP AT LIMNI FOR 2 HOURS.

OSIOS DAVID OF EVIA AND THE WATER FALL OF DRYMONAS

Situated in a green area in northern Evia, at the foot of the Kavallari and Xeros Mountains, opposite the village of Drimonas and above the village of Kalamoudi, there is the Monastery of Saint David the Elder, dedicated to the Transfiguration of Sotiros.

The Holy Monastery, which is only for males, dominates the slopes of Mount Kavallaris at an altitude of 927 meters, about 30km from Edipsos, 16km from Rovies and 22km from Limni.

Around and outside the monastery have been built many churches in memory of various saints, while the monastery of Saint David is known for the religious attributes of the elderly monk of the blessed Jacob, who for many years and until the end of his life, was its abbot and later was recognized as a Saint. His name day is celebrated on November 22.

Is not known when the monastery was built, but it is certain that it existed before 1500. Osios David (approx., 1550) built the monastery on the ruins of the pre-existing church, which was destroyed by the Turks after the occupation of Evia in 1470.

The monastery was destroyed in 1824 by the Turks as a revenge for the participation of its monks in the proclamation of 1821. It was rebuilt in 1877. The remains of Osios are preserved in the temple of the monastery, as well as its incense and his stole.

On the slope of where the monastery is situated, upstream lies the village of Drimonas and continuing 4km afterwards we come across the Drimonas waterfalls, which are one of the "hidden" spectacles of Evia. The path between the lush surroundings provide travelers with a sense of calm and serenity.

The River Sipias creates a magnificent scene by passing its water over dreamy waterfalls. The waterfalls flow down for 15 meters before reaching a crystal clear lake surrounded by rocks and forest.

This lake is of great ecological value due to the dense fir forest surrounding it and visitors can combine it with the rare beauty of black pine trees.

The journey here is very pleasant and the scenery idyllic. The forest has shaped the area with tourism, with a small network of trails, bridges and benches.

ST JOHN OF RUSSIA

The church of St. John of Russia is located in Prokopi Evia and is dedicated to the saint of the same name. A large number of pilgrims visit the holy relic of the saint every day throughout the year.

The pilgrimage of Saint John operates under the direct supervision of the Metropolis of Chalkida. It maintains a hostel, which was founded in 1977 and opened in 1989.

It has a capacity of 160 beds and also includes lecture rooms, a museum and more. Its halls are home to Sacred Conferences, Pan-Orthodox Conferences under the auspices of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.

It is one of the most important pilgrimages, not only of Euboea but of the whole Hellenistic church of Saint John of Russia where the whole, indestructible and sepulchral saint's shrine is kept.

Until 1924 the holy relic was kept in the temple of St. Basil in Prokopi, Central Asia. During the exchange of the Greek-Turkish population in 1924, the Christian inhabitants of Prokopi took the relic with them and transferred it to the new Prokopi of Evia, which was to become their new homeland.

In 1930 the magnificent church in honor of the Saint began to be built, and was completed in 1951 and functions as a religious site.

People flock to the "home" of Saint John of Russia on his day of remembrance on May 27, when a magnificent litany of the stage of the folk and miraculous martyr of Orthodoxy ends.

As is well known, the faithful who go to the monastery, in addition to the holy oil of the monastery, also touch on their bodies objects or clothes that belonged to the saint in order to be cured of various ailments and diseases.

One of these objects is the belt of St. John of Russia. The miraculous band, as it is known, has many witnesses who have seen believers who wore the belt in their waist or head being cured of chronic pains and ailments.