Monasteries - Monastery of Virgin “Cathariotissa” in Ithaca
On the southeastern tip of Mount Nirito, which dominates throughout Ithaca, lies the Monastery of Panagia Kathariotissa
The entrance of the Monastery
Monastery started building in 1696. All the inhabitants of the Ithaca helped for the construction and operation of the Monastery
Name 'Cathariotissa' is derived from the word 'Cathara', which in the local dialect means twigs and small bushes which are cut and burned to purify one place. Since they found the sacred image of Nativity of the Virgin miraculously inside burning 'Cathara', they named the place so
The central Church of the Monastery ('Catholikon')
The inner place of 'Catholikon' is of particular aesthetic
Catholicon has very beautiful stained glasses
The feast of the monastery occurs every year on September 8, with the participation of the Bishop, the authorities of the island and the prefecture, the Philharmonic Orchestra and people from Ithaca, arriving at the Monastery either from Ithaca or from places where they live.
Just outside the monastery ,on the edge of the cliff, is the steeple. On its ground floor lies the chapel of Saints Constantine and Helen. The construction is 'modern', as the old belfry of the monastery was destroyed by the earthquake of 1953
