Mykonos / Churches and Monasteries

Aghios Georgios is a monastery in the area of Ano Mera. Built at the end of l7th Century. Nowadays it is closed because no monks or nuns are housed anymore.

In the area of Marathi, is dated from 1665. Includes noteworthy icons and is famous for its exquisite architecture.

Nowadays no monks or nuns are housed anymore. Therefore ususally it is closed, opening only on the celebration of its name day in the middle of July.

Found in Alefkandra area of Chora (Mykonos town), next to the Orthodox Metropolis. It was bought and repaired in 1668 by Don Leonard Xanthakis.

Usually it is closed as there is no catholic prist available on the island.

Founded, most probably, in the beginning of the 17th century (i.e. around 1600 A.C.), during the Turkish occupation, under the "Kastro" (castle).

The castle is dated from the Paleolithic Age, and it was used by the Venetian Andreas Gizis, when he occupied Mykonos in 1207. Near the village of "Ano Mera" remnants of the stone walls of this old castle are still visible. That is how it took its name, since "Palaiokastro" means old castle.

It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary "Kimissi tis Theotokou" and contains very beautiful wood-carved "iconostasi" (screen that separates the altar from the rest of the church) and icons, dated around 1738 and made by the Cretan icon painter Ioannis Skordilis.

The monastery of Panaghia Tourliani (Our Lady Tourliani) is the most significant highlight of the Ano Mera village, about 8.5 kilometers east of Mykonos town (Chora). The monastery was founded in 1542 by monks of the monastery of Katapoliani of Paros, on the site that earlier was the church of "Eisodia tis Panaghias" (Presentation of the Virgin Mary).  

In 1767, the monastery was restored, assuming its present shape. Its marvelous architecture is impressive, especially the part which belongs to the bell-tower. In the monastery's yard, there is a marble fountain, which has sculptured decorations, while the superb wood-carved "templo" (screen) of the church has been constructed in Florence. A museum operates inside the monastery, which features religious exhibits like vestments, Renaissance and Byzantine icons, the first bells of the monastery and other ecclesiastical gems.  

It is also worth mentioning how important the monastery was to Greece during the German occupation.  

Panaghia Tourliani is named after the dome (tourlos in the Mykonian dialect) of the church, and is the name of an Icon of Virgin Mary. This Icon is believed to be blessed or miraculous, as most people say in Greece, and many go there to pray. Panaghia Tourliani is considered the Patron saint of the island and is celebrated on the l5th of August.

The church dates back to the middle of the 15th century A.D. The name comes from the word "Porta" = Door, as it was build right next to the entrance of the Medieval castle in Chora, which unfortunately has been completely destroyed.

Building of great Architectural value, it consists of 4 ground floor temples and one of the first floor, which is the main church. The churches around it (Aghios Sozontas, Aghii Anargyri, Aghia Anastasia, and Aghios Efstathios) comprise the whole of the church of Paraportiani.