The monasteries of Skopelos
Tribute to the Monastery Evaggelistria

High on the mountain Palouki east of Skopelos, the holy monastery Evaggelismos of Virgin Mary is placed.

Built on a site with a magnificent view towards Skopelos it is the support of the island, according to the verses of Kaisarios Daponte.

Its founding and growth are directly connected with the important family Daponte. Besides the testimony of the learned Skopelitan monk no other written source remains in order to inform us about the founding and restoration of the monastery.

According to Kaisarios Daponte the monastery's codex, which he himself composed, at the place where today's monastery is situated, there was earlier another smaller one which belonged to the Daponte family, more precisely to the father of Hatzi-Stephanis Ioannis Grammatikos.

Hatzi-Stephanis, at his own costs, restored the old monastery in 1712 and gave it the form it has today. The restoration in that epoch cost 5 "pougia which means 5x500=2.500 piaster.

Evagellistria in spring 1999

The reason for the restoration was a miracle of Virgin Mary, which saved Hatzi-Stephanis, when Skopelitan notables, out of envy, delivered him to the island's Aga to be put to death. About the cause of their ill will nothing is known. Anyway during that time Hatzi-Stephanis held the office of Consul of England as did later his son Kaisarios.

The founder and restorer of the monastery showed interest in the education of the Skopelitans and therefore he established a school at the monastery where among others Osios Lerothios the Iberian taught. The monastery belongs to the holy monastery Xiropotamou of Mountain Athos.

Earlier according to Kaisarios Daponte the monastery was related to the Patriarch of Konstantinoupol. A cross was implanted on the foundation of the monastery with a wonderful icon of our Lady, which is miraculous. This icon is called "Pammakaristos" and according to tradition it was brought to Skopelos by two monks who came from Konstantinoupol during the reign of Nikiforos Fokas (963-969). There is another icon of Virgin Mary in a position of devoutness and respect. It shows the date 1866 but has to be older.

Metochi with the pretty well of St. George ,
Evagellistria and above to the right Sotiros.

An interesting altar screen, a work of woodcarving. In the monastery a patriarch's bull of 1804 is sheltered, with two leaden seals of the monastery.

We learnt from two registers (catalogues) of 1829 and 1841 respectively about the heirlooms and elements relevant to the monasteries property.

When Kaisarios wrote his metrical poem "Anthi Noita" in the monastery Xiropotamo in 1786 the abbot in Evaggelistria was a certain bishop, formerly N. Patron, maybe Gerasimos from Skopelos.

Abbots in the monastery were formerly the bishops Zitounios Meletios and Thoumakos Seraphim.

Important for the Skopelitans was the presence of the holy monk Prokopiou with his ascetic life, meekness and humble manner.

In the monastery is a chapel dedicated to the protector of the sailors, St. Nikolaos.

The longing of Kaisarios Daponte to return to his father's monastery was great, and therefore he writes, "Coming back to home land finally after so many years and events and labor, I climbed straight up to the monastery without first stepping on the soil of the town.

"Inside water, outside water, with cistern with plane trees, worthwhile even for grand people".

Two nuns live in the monastery nowadays, who, always willingly and kindheartedly, open the heavy door to visitors and offer them cool water and the sweet "loukoumi" and guide them to the holy shrines to worship..

(Author: Kostas Suros, Professor Theolog)

In the way to the monastery you will drink water from thw water source of Metochi

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