Moni Pentelis

September 2, 2016September 2, 2016
by irene Archos

If you have the chance, make your way to Pentelis Mountain, a short 18 kilometer (less than 8 mile) jaunt from Athens, to visit the historic Monastery of the Koimisis tis Theotokou otherwise known as the “Moni Pentelis.” The monastery built during Turkish occupation in the 16^th century is decorated with the most beautiful iconography. It houses a museum that documents the history of the community and its connection with the greater history of Athens. Just a small nugget: In 1778 the holy Monastery constituted the shelter for the residents of Athens, which along with their Metropolitan Gabriel of Athens remained on the grounds of the Monastery in order to avoid a horrible epidemic of plague which decimated a large part of population of Athens. These citizens were cared for by the Monastery for roughly two years.

There is also a small museum hall in the crypt of the walls (still under renovation) that recreates the “Krifio Scholeio” or the “Hidden School,” the practice where monks and clerics of the church would gather the young and old at night to teach them the fundamentals of the Greek language and the Gospel. If it hadn’t been for the secret night school, an act that could have been punished by death, the Greek language and Orthodox faith might have been forgotten.

20160828_095256 — The main entrance into Pentelis Monastery; fortified walls surround the compound in a central courtyard where the main church is

20160828_095313 — The entrance to the Krifo Scholeio, the Secret School during the time of the Ottoman Occupation where monks taught children and adults the fundamentals of the Greek language and religion

20160828_095515 — mosaic of Virgin and Child above a fountain

20160828_095644 — St. George the New Martyr from Ioannina one of the saints during the Ottoman Occupation of Greece

20160828_103052 — Christ depicted as an Angel, a rare icon

20160828_102048 — details from the dome of the main catholicon Christ enthroned in glory

20160828_095739 — From the interior of the main church during Sunday liturgy

The monastery of Pentelis features stone buildings surrounding a central courtyard with bas reliefs of Byzantine creatures such as griffons.

Today in the Monahologio (a list of Monks serving the Monastery) of the Monastery there are 58 monks and hieromonks registered, 17 monks reside permanently in the Monastery and 1 is a postulant.

For more info:

Monastery, Byzantine & Post-Byzantine Monuments, Cultural heritage PENTELI , ATTIKI , GREECE

(Est. 1578)

15236 PENTELI , ATTIKI , GREECE

Tel.: +30 210 8041757, 8042404 , Fax: +30 210 8041755

URL: http://www.ecclesia.gr/mones