Kyparissia Monastery of Katsimikana

Location: Town

The Monastery of Panagia Katsimikana in Kyparissia: The historical monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary or else of Panagia Katsimikana and lies at a fabulous location, 450 meters above sea level, among mountainsides and lush greenery, approximately 9 km north of Kyparissia Town. The area is gifted with much greenery and visitors can see a great variety of flora and fauna with apple trees, platens, chestnut trees, cypresses, pines, firs, willows and more. The monastery offers a remarkable panoramic view of Kyparissia Bay, Zakynthos Island and the endless lowlands of Messenia prefecture.

The exact date on which the monastery was built is unknown although many historical events bring us closer to its construction date. These are the silver cressets made in 1885, the silver chalices which were created in 1880 and 1885, the ancient icons of 19th-century origin and the Archangels Michael and Gabriel seen on the adjacent doors of the beam, which were created in Mount Athos in 1923.

According to the legend, near the monastery, something miraculous happened. A shepherd who pastured his goats in the area noticed that one small goat, called Katsikada, separated from the herd and came back with its water on its beard. There was no source of water in the area so the shepherd followed it one day to find a water source between some bushes. When he went back and told the villagers, they came to the spot and cut the bushes. That is when the holy icon of Virgin Mary's birth was discovered. Considering this as a holy sign, the villagers built the Monastery of Katsimikana on that exact spot.

In 1997, a special room in the hermitage was built and assigned to the historical discoveries that were acquired by the monastery's votary, Spiridon. Among these valuables, visitors will find books dating back to 1862 being printed at the Greek printing press of Saint Georgios in Venice, and others printed in the late 19th century in Greece. The Holy Abbey of Katsimikana celebrates on 8th of September.