May 5, 2015

The Holy Monastery of Saint Irene in Apoikia on the Island of Andros


The Holy Monastery of Saint Irene in Apoikia was built in 1780 by two brother monks.

In 1843, after only 63 years of being in operation, the Monastery fell to ruin. The only thing remaining from the original Monastery is the icon of Saint Irene the Great Martyr together with Saint Irene Chrysovalantou on the iconostasis from 1800. For this reason the Holy Monastery celebrates on May 5th in honor of Saint Irene the Great Martyr and on July 29th in honor of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou. Also, the spring from this Monastery provided the Hotel Grand Bretagne in Athens with water over a eighty years ago.

Up until a few years ago the Monastery was in complete ruin, but locals began restoration of the Monastery and today it is in operation on its feasts and can be visited by pilgrims.