Moni Profitou Iliou, description and photos - Greece: Santorini Island (Thira) (Topic)

Moni Profitou Iliou monastery description and photos - Greece: Santorini Island (Thira). Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Moni Profitou Iliou.

Photo and description

One of the most famous temples of the island of Santorini (Thira) is the monastery of Elijah the Prophet. It is located 4 km south of the village of Pyrgos, on the highest point of the island (Mount Elijah the Prophet), at an altitude of 586 m above sea level.

The monastery of Elijah the Prophet is one of the oldest on the island and was built in 1712 by monks from Pyrgos in the style of a fortress. In the first two centuries after its construction, the monastery played an important role in the economic, political and cultural life of the island. During the period of Ottoman domination, there was an underground school on the territory of the monastery, in which the Greek language and literature, which were prohibited at that time, were taught. Since 1860, the monastery gradually began to lose its former importance, and in 1956, as a result of a strong earthquake, that shook the island of Santorini, was very badly damaged.

Today, the monastery houses a museum of religious art, which houses an excellent collection of unique icons and a variety of church relics. The monastery library also contains an excellent collection of rare manuscripts and old documents. The museum displays models of the reconstructed premises of the underground school, the blacksmith's workshop and the traditional carpentry workshop.

The top of the mountain offers stunning panoramic views of the picturesque landscapes of Santorini and the surrounding islands, and on a clear sunny day, you can even see the peaks of Crete. Unfortunately, the top of the hill is also used today as a military base. Special equipment and barracks spoil the overall impression of the beautiful temple.

We also recommend reading Lighthouse on the Batag Island (Batag Island Lighthouse) description and photos - Philippines: Samar Island

Topic: Moni Profitou Iliou, description and photos - Greece: Santorini Island (Thira).