At the top of Mount Ithomi and at an altitude of 800 m is the Old Monastery of Vulkanou dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In this location are the ruins of the acropolis of Ancient Messina which was built at the foothills and oversaw the entire area
The Holy Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos Vulkanou is the most historic and largest Monastery in Messinia. The old Monastery is located on Mount Ithomi, at an altitude of 800 meters, while the new Monastery is lower, at an altitude of 359 meters. The Monastery has a great national and ecclesiastical activity. In the course of time, a multitude of Monks, who distinguished themselves for their virtuous practice and admirable conduct of life, settled in this place. About 10 of these fathers have been promoted to Bishops.
At the top of Mount Ithomi and at an altitude of 800 m is the Old Monastery of Vulkanou dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In this location are the ruins of the acropolis of Ancient Messina which was built at the foothills and oversaw the entire area
Its original location was at the top of Mount Ithomi, where there was an ancient sanctuary of Zeus Ithomata. According to tradition, it was founded in 725 by iconoclast monks and its catholicon, dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin, is decorated with remarkable frescoes from 1608, works by the Moschos brothers from Nafplio. At the beginning of the 17th century, due to the difficulties of living, the monks abandoned it and moved lower, to the current location.
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Holy Monastery of Vulkanos, Messinia
During the years of the Turkish occupation, the monastery experienced great prosperity, it was stauropygian and had a large property and shares in Messinia as well as in Smyrna. It was a refuge for charioteers and thieves and in the revolution of 1821 it had an important contribution, by offering money and food. It was burned by the troops of Ibrahim Pasha in 1825 and its monks fled to Mani and Zakynthos, taking with them the icon of the Virgin Mary, but they returned in 1828. Since then the monastery has been operating without interruption.
The complex is surrounded by buildings of cells and auxiliary spaces. The catholicon was built in 1701 and took its current form at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a cruciform church with a dome and inside it had remarkable frescoes, which were destroyed by Ibrahim and covered with lime in 1882. In the church is kept the miraculous icon of Panagia Vulkaniotissa or Odigetria, which is said to be the work of the Evangelist Loukas. The monastery has relics of saints and many heirlooms, which are exhibited in a museum.
Today the old monastery is closed and only operates during the period of the fifteenth of August. The new one is celebrated on August 15, while on September 20 there is a multi-day celebration and litany of the icon in Messina.
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