Rhodes Panagia Tsambika

Location: Tsambika

The Monastery of Panagia Tsambika is located about 25 kilometers south of Rhodes Town, between the villages of Kolymbia and Archangelos. The old monastery is built on top of a hill that offers gorgeous views of the sea and the inland as far as Lindos, while the new monastery, the one which is in operation today, stands near the road that connects Archangelos to Rhodes Town.

DISCOVER RHODES WITH OUR TOURS!
Book an unforgettable Tour in Rhodes or get there with your own rental car.

Though the old monastery’s construction date is unknown, we do know that it was reconstructed in 1770 by a monk. According to an inscription, a temple dedicated to Artemis used to stand on this very site during the Classical era, and animal sacrifices as well as votive offerings were made to the goddess.

The monastery was built following the Dodecanesian architectural style, with hollow roof tiles and traditional mosaic floors made with black and white pebbles. The ornately carved wooden altarpiece is also of particular interest, while the monastery boasts a small ecclesiastical museum with icons, manuscripts and other religious items crafted between the 14th and the 19th centuries.

The name of the monastery comes from the word tsamba, which means spark in the local dialect. Tradition has it that a shepherd found an icon of the Virgin Mary, which had disappeared from Cyprus. After the icon reappeared in this location on two more occasions, it was decided that a monastery should be constructed on the spot. The icon of Panagia Tsambika is thought to be miraculous, particularly for childless women, which is why many women dedicate offerings to the icon of Panagia. Panagia Tsambika is considered the island’s patron, which is why many boys and girls are named Tsambikos and Tsambika respectively.

Buses to the monastery stop either at Lindos or Tsambika Beach, whence visitors will have to climb the uphill path that leads to the old monastery for around 50-55 minutes. Getting there by car is certainly easier and faster, but it is still necessary to walk up the 350 steps that lead to the top of the hill.