Evangelistria Monastery

The commanding Monastery of Evangelistria (or Vagelistra, as locals call it) can be found on the northeast of the island, under Karaflitzanaka, the summit of Skiathos.Among the oldest Monasteries of Greece, it is the only “active” monastery of Skiathos.

Evangelistria was built by Kollyvades monks of the Holy Mount Athos. It was a rigorous Monastery that banned entrance to women and followed all the strict regulations of the Holy Mount. The sanctity of the monks and the holy lives they led had an impact not only on the religious tradition of the island but also on the lives of all its residents.

he land of the Monastery is also home to two chapels (Agios Dimitrios and Agios Ioannis Prodromos - “John the Forerunner”), while a third chapel is 300 meters southeast of its courtyard: it is the cemetery chapel of the Monastery, (old church of) Panagia Zoodoxos Pigi (Life-giving Font of the Mother of God). The oil press of the Monastery is of significance as well: it is on the north side and takes up a lot of space to showcase the particular tools and structures required to produce oil, since the entire territory of the Monastery is essentially a huge olive grove.

It is established that building of Evangelistria started in 1794 and finished in 1806.

he Monastery of Evangelistria was the base of the revolutionary moulding for all battles of the time, considering it greatly aided from a moral but also a material point of view the pre-revolutionary movements as well as the Revolution of 1821 itself. It was there that, in 1807, the first Greek Flag -with the white Cross in a sky-blue background- was designed, created, blessed and raised for the first time.

The Library and the Folklore Museum of the Monastery of Evangelistria boast an impressive collection of musical instruments from all over the world and other exhibits and sacred relics. a truly great sacred treasure. Most of these were donated by Admiral Lazaros Kountouriotis in 1823 in recognition of the great contribution of the Monastery in the liberation of the Greek nation.

source