Paros Jesus of the Woods church

Location: Sotires

The Monastery of Jesus of the Woods in Paros, Cyclades Greece: The Monastery of Jesus of the Woods is also known as the Monastery of Transfiguration of Christ. This is a nunnery (female monastery) constructed at a distance of 6 km from Parikia, close to the Valley of Butterflies. The katholikon of the monastery is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Christ, while on the northern side of the yard, there is a church dedicated to Agios Arsenios (1800-1877), the protector saint of Paros island. In fact, the grave and the skull of the saint are guarded in this monastery.

Before turning into a monastery, the building was actually the residence of Mavrogenis Family until 1973, when the family donated it to the Monastery of Panagia Ekatontapyliani. In 1805, the building housed the first monastic community. The church of Agios Arsenios in the Monastery of Jesus of the Woods celebrates twice a year, on January 31st when is the name day of the saint, and on August 18th, when is the removal of his relics.

How to get there

The Church of Jesus of the Woods is located in Sotires village.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked Paros transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: 0030 694 4540 556, 0030 694 4668 331, 0030 699 9450 800 or book your taxi online.

Car rental: Τhere’s the option of renting a car in Paros with as little as 14 euros per day and pick it up directly from the airport, port or your hotel. Using a car rental allows visitors to discover the Church of Jesus of the Woods and many other places of interest in Paros at their own pace.