July 26, 2019

Consecration of Chrysovalantou Monastery Which Was Dedicated to the Archangels


The Monastery of Chrysovalantou was located on the fifth hill of Constantinople, known then as Chrysovalantou from which the Monastery took its name, though the Monastery itself was dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, or perhaps only Gabriel. In the ninth century biography of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou, we read that on July 26th the celebration of the consecration of the Monastery took place, and on this day also its abbess Saint Irene was informed by an angel that she would die the day after the feast of Saint Panteleimon, which would be July 28th.

It makes one wonder whether or not Chrysovalantou Monastery was in fact one of the other two monasteries or churches dedicated to both Archangels Michael and Gabriel whose consecrations are also celebrated on July 26th. The locations of all three of these churches and monasteries are relatively unknown and little if any information has been handed down to us.