Honouring the Virgin Mary

On the top of Mount Skopos stands a Byzantine monument: the Μonastery of Panagia Skopiotissa.

In antiquity, in place of the monastery stood a temple to Artemis, the goddess. Thousands of years later, in the mid-15th century, Zakynthians constructed Panagia Skopiotissa in honour of the Virgin Mary. Over its existence, it has endured the ravages of time and the elements. In 1534, the property was granted to nobility – the Logothetis family. Shortly after, following a devastating earthquake that nearly brought the monastery to ruins, efforts to rebuild began in 1624 with a contribution from Bishop Anthimus of Corinth. Another earthquake in 1953 destroyed the complex, miraculously sparing its church. 

Αpart from the church of Agios Andreas in Kalamaki, Panagia Skopiotissa is the only surviving Byzantine church in Zakynthos. Its outline is in the shape of a cross with an oval-shaped dome. The ascent to Panagia requires navigating a rough dirt road, but those who make the journey are rewarded by the area’s natural beauty and that which exists inside the church. Breathtaking views, rare hidden frescoes and the miraculous icon of Panagia are awe-inspiring and well worth the journey.

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TEXT : ROMINA XYDA
PHOTO : NIKOS KOKKAS