Amorgos Island and its churches.
Q. Where is the Island of Amorgos located? A.= The Island of
Amorgos is in Greece. It is located in the cyclades near the
Dodecanese.
Q. What does the word Dodecanese mean? A.= Dodecanese comes from
a greek word: dodeca=12, nisi=island, so the Dodecanese is a
group of 12 islands.
Q .In which area of Amorgos island are the churches located? A=
Several churches are located in HORA which is the most important
town of the island. There are also many churches located
throughout the island.
Q. How many churches does the island of Amorgos have? A= More
than 40 churches for a population of 2000 inhabitants...
Q. What type of churches are they? A= The churches of Amorgos
island are part of the Orthodox heritage.
Q. Are the churches of Amorgos island considered as part of the
national historical heritage? A =Yes these churches were built
in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
Q. Why should such a small Greek island have so many churches?
A=The island of Amorgos has been under the Ottoman rule and law:
people of Amorgos island didn't have to pay taxes if they built
a small church on their land.
Q. Which church is the most famous on Amorgos island? A=The
HOZOVIOTISSA MONASTERY built in the 11th century is the most
famous church.
Q. Where is it located? A=It is two km away from the town of
Hora. It is located towards the north east sector of Amorgos
island.
Q. Are there any monks living there? A=There are still few monks
living in the monastery (about 5 or 6).
Q. Why is this monastery so famous? A= The monastery has exposed
a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary which has been found in the
sea...having escaped the Iconoclastic period...They say that the
famous icon has been taken to several places to be preserved:
Cyprus, Minor Asia, Jerusalem. The monastery is also the ancient
ORACLE of Amorgos island. Prophesies were made near the natural
springs of water.
Q. What other element should be an interest for the visitors?
A=There is also a very old school which was operating sometime
at the period of the Ottoman invasion .At the time, greek
schools were forbidden in Greece. There were some classes taken
place secretly in some churches, there was such a school in the
Monastery of Amorgos.( krefa skolia or hidden schools).
Q. How can someone get to visit the Monastery HOZOVIOTISSA of
Amorgos island? A= There is a BUS service for the visitors. From
HORA, the BUS will take you near the entrance, there is a stair
to climb to go inside the church to see the icon.
Q. Which other churches should represent an interest for the
visitor on Amorgos island in the Cyclades, in Greece? A=Among
all, we would suggest those (your choice is a matter of
taste...): 1.Panagia Politissa church on Amorgos island
Greece...is a very special church built at the Early Christian
era. The old construction has been made within the remains of
another more ancient building: an old temple of the Pre
Christian era. 2. Aghios Georgios Valsamitis church on Amorgos
island in Greece (Cyclades). 3. Moni Hozoviotissa church on
Amorgos island , in Greece,(Cyclades). 4. Panagia Kastriana
church on Amorgos island, Greece, (Cyclades)....a beautiful
white church built on the top of a hill. 5. Agia Pareskevi
church on Amorgos island, Greece, (Cyclades). This big church
looks rather like a cathedral. People of the village of Agia
Pareskevi had built this church to be protected from their
misfortune coming from the several attacks of pirates...months
after months ... year after year... Here are also a few more
tips about Greece. Rooms Apartments in Athens Greece Athensrooms. Free Greek
travel information traveling in Athens Greece Greekster. Apartments
in Athens Greece Self catering. M
Savard Inspirer, author, professor, astrologist. Thanks