PAROS TRAVEL GUIDE

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CHURCHES & MONASTERIES

Monasteries & Churches of Paros

In every corner of Paros are whitewashed churches, chapels and monasteries setting apart the Paros landscape. Many were built during the 16th - 17th centuries when the Church of Paros was at its peak.

Agios Georgios, the Thalassitis of the13th century in Piso Livadi, the Evangelismos of the Madonna of 1410 in Marpissa and the Theoskepasti in the Protoria of Naoussa. The churches of Paros have marvellous murals and icons of architectural and historical interest. The monasteries, areas of faith as well as important intellectual centres, are all interlinked with the history of the island.

Built in scenic locations, but externally resemble fortresses. During the time of the Ottoman domination there were roughly 35 monasteries on Paros. Today only five remain in operation. The monastery of Logovardas in Paroikias Street in Naoussa; it is a male commune and wll known for its spiritual contributions and the help that was offered to the islanders during the years of the German occupation. Its social participation still continues today by granting a 12 acre property to the Kingfisher Association for the care and protection of wild animals operating on a 24 hour basis with volunteers in Paros. Other monasteries in operation are the Thapsanon, south of Elita, Agios Arseniou - Christ of the Forest, south of Paroikias, where there is also the grave of Agios Arseniou, the patron of the island, Taxiarhi to the north of Paroikias and Agios Theodoros, east of Angerias.

The Church of the Madonna of Ekatondapylianis

In north east Paroikias, a short distance from the harbour is the pride of Paros and one of the more important early Christian monuments in Greece, the Church of the Madonna of Ekatondapylianis of the 4th century.

It consists of the church of the Madonna, Agios Nikolaos basilica, the chapel of Agios Theodosias, the chapel of Agios Dimitrios with the cells that protected the holy works and the Baptistery. This has a marble font in the shape of the cross, where older Christians were baptized until the 4th century before the onset of the custom of the baptism of infants. At the time of Ioustinianou this early Christian church was covered by a vaulted dome. The Baptistery of Ekatontapylianis is ancient and the better maintained of all the Eastern Orthodox Church and baptisms still often take place here.