A unique experience of immersion and architecture awaits you in the eastern and steep part of the rock with the medieval name Polyphegous, the so-called “mountain of the Virgin” as the locals call it, at the entrance of Nemea. There you will find the Virgin of the Rock, ruins of an old church built literally inside the cave, which we can see in its impressive shots DroneDays gr.
In the polyhedron inside the cave, there is the naidrio and the katholikon and today it is a sacred pilgrimage of pan-Hellenic radiance and respect.
It was founded in the 17th century (1631) of course it had started to be built several years earlier, at the beginning of the 16th century and in 1631 it was officially declared a Monastery with the permission of the high Gate, the Virgin of the Rock had a great contribution to the liberation struggle.
The Holy Icon is kept today in the Metochi of Agios Athanasios for greater protection.
She is characterized as the Virgin of Passion.
To the right and left of her figure and at the top there are painted two Angels kneeling, bearing and symbols of passion.
Her miracles are many and we have many testimonies of her miraculous operations. Apart from that, it also has a huge history.
During the occupation, thieves invaded the Monastery and looted it, shortly before leaving the monastery, one of them shot the miraculous image in his hand. Immediately she began to bleed and cry. So even today she has a big hole in her hand.
Also, when the Monastery was being built, the builders were not tied up and were essentially stepping on the rocks. But one day two of them happened and fell. The first one as he fell shouted – MY MOTHER! and unfortunately passed away. On the contrary, the second one shouted – MY VIRGIN and was miraculously saved.
The Virgin of the Rock experienced great glories from the beginning of the 19th century. until the time of Kapodistrias, while during the Revolution he offered important services to the Struggle.
The monastery is only one kilometer away from Nemea. The road brings us to the stone-built, arched entrance, from which we enter the narrow courtyard, always having “next to” the rock. To the right and quite high are the cells and the Katholikon of the Monastery, while at the edge of the courtyard there is a half-ruined, two-storey building. On its wall, towards the cliff, there are loopholes. Near the entrance, the stone staircase with its 70 steps and many turns, climbs the rock vertically and ends in a small paved balcony, here we are protected by a wall, with loopholes. In the middle of it rises a stone-built arched belfry. At the other end of the balcony there is the church of Panagia. On the outside of the three-sided niche of the church there is a shield with decorative designs in Byzantine style. Generally in various places Byzantine art decorations are observed, leading us to the conclusion that they come from the old Monastery.
Dronedaysgr
.
