By Nicolas Bard

When you hear Sifnos, what image comes to mind? Certainly the first picture is that of Panagia Chrysopigi, with the iconic and whitish monastery, which seems to “float” in the blue Aegean waters. Panagia Chrysopigi is a former monastery, built on a small cape on the southeast coast of Sifnos.

In the past there was a metochi of the Vrisi Monastery and earlier references to the monastery date back to the 17th century. In fact, the monastery is associated with many legends of the island. The former monastery’s building complex includes some rectangular buildings beyond the church, such as the dining room. The one -room church bears an inscription of 1757, when it was probably rebuilding the temple.

Panagia Chrysopigi is built on a small, rocky Akrotiri on the southeast side of Sifnos, very close to the settlement of Faros, which in the past may have been the main port of the island. Akrotiri is 400 meters long and 100 width, and is separated from the rest of the island by a narrow schism and is connected to it with a small bridge. The image of the monastery is one of the most characteristic Cycladic scenery, which is playing in large EOT campaigns abroad!

The earliest reference made to Panagia Chrysopigi is in a manuscript of the monk Virgini Heretis, dating from Theodosius Sperantza in 1676 or 1677. The manuscript describes the wonders of Panagia Chrysopigi, such as the tear of the rock and the story. The manuscript indicates that the oldest surviving buildings are the old dining room and the cells next to it, which were erected in 1675 by Pope Ieronymos Zambelis along with the Catholic Monastery.

The monk Virgin mentions that this temple was built in the place of a temple that was three thorns and then expanded, which in turn was built in the site of an even older temple. The church we see today, according to the built -in inscription, dates back to 1757. In the period 1890 – 1900 additional cells were built, which have built inscriptions with the names of the Sifnos Proveligio and Decavalle, who probably financed their construction. In 1923 a new dining room was built, which was then divided into individual spaces. In 1964 Panagia Chrysopigi was designated as the patron saint of Sifnos, and celebrated every year of Ascension.

Unlike other monasteries, Panagia Chrysopigi is not surrounded by a wall and the buildings are arranged freely and at different levels due to the slope of the soil. Beyond the central entrance, there are many secondary, such as those from the rocks at sea level. The complex is divided into two by the schism, with the church and some cells being on the rock, and the other cells and the dining room on land. All buildings are small and whitewashed, as appropriate in Cycladic aesthetics.

To the left of Chrysopigi is the Gulf of Apokoftos, which has one of the most beautiful and clean beaches of Sifnos. The emerald waters and the simple natural beauty of the scene will win you over at first sight. Just opposite Chrysopigi, in the Gulf of Fasolos, is the Monastery of Stavros, which adds another touch to the already picturesque landscape.

On the other side of the rock of Chrysopigi is the beach of Saoure, which has no sandy beach but large pebbles. There are no trees for natural shade, but the waters are emerald and crystal clear. For the most courageous, there is another option: the dives of the rocks of Chrysopigi!

The blue, transparent waters of the area are that for endless dips and exploration of the seabed with a mask. If you still find yourself in the full moon area, the magnificent image of the full moon that illuminates the creature and shines on the surface of the sea will be the best memory you will have with you, leaving the island.