Patmos Monastery of Annunciation and Saint Amphilochius

Location: Chora

The Monastery of Annunciation and Saint Amphilochius is located on the southwest side of Chora. This historic religious center started as a small chapel until it was renovated in 1613 by a Cretan monk named Nikiforos. The monastery comprises the main Church of Evangelistria and the side chapels of Saint Luke and Saint Anthony as well as a three-story defensive tower.

In 1937, the Hieromonk of the Monastery of Saint John Amphilochios Makris supplemented the monastery with new buildings and founded the Convent of the Annunciation. Both the church and the convent played a significant role during the Italian occupation of the island, serving as a secret school where nuns taught the Greek language to the younger generations. After the liberation of Patmos, Makris sent a group of nuns to Rhodes, where they went on to establish the orphanage of Rhodes, along with a hospital, a nursery school, and a primary school.

Today, the monastery is well-maintained and open to visitors. It houses a collection of interesting icons and vibrant frescoes that date from the 15th to 17th centuries. Among them, a large number of icons were painted by a nun named Olympias, who was a student of famous hagiographer Fotis Kontoglou. The Chapel of Saint Luke is distinguished by its wood-carved and gold-plated iconostasis.

The monastery is inhabited by over 40 nuns who are engaged in beekeeping, gardening, sewing, and embroidery. A small shop can be found on the premises of the monastery that sells many of its home-grown products.