The monastery of Elijah the Prophet

The temples of Santorini are interesting for their history. Ilya Prorokar Monastery is located on the mountain of the same name at an altitude of 586 meters. From the height offers a beautiful view of Santorini and other islands. The nearest village of Pyrgos is about 4 kilometers away. The construction dates back to 1712. The monks Gabriel and Joachim Belonias built it in the form of a fortress. At that time, it became the center of the cultural life of the island. Even during the Ottoman occupation, there was a secret school where Greek language and literature were taught. In 1956, the monastery was destroyed by an earthquake. Now there is a museum of religious art, where there are valuable icons, manuscripts and documents, wooden sculptures and embroidered products of the 17-18 centuries. Exhibitions are constantly held in the monastery. The feast day in honor of the memory of the prophet Elijah is celebrated on July 20. You can get from Pyrgos by rented car.