Monastery of Christ (ruins)
Sightseeing
The fenced ruins of a 14th-century Byzantine monastery above Therma, built partly with marble from the Sanctuary of the Great Gods. Visits by appointment.
- Sightseeing
A Byzantine monastery in the forest above Therma
East of Therma, between the valleys of Gria Vathra and Kardelis, the ruins of the Holy Monastery of Christ stand among tall trees about 150 metres above the sea. Locals call the area Christos. The monastery is thought to date from the middle of the 14th century and was probably part of a settlement.
By 1771 it had become a dependency of the Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos, the first written mention of it. It was abandoned in the 19th century and declared an archaeological site in 1964.
What remains
- The small church, about 12 by 4 metres, with a narthex, a nave and one apse, its walls decorated with blind brick arches.
- Pieces of marble carried from the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, some with ancient inscriptions, built into the walls next to carved crosses.
- Traces of the cistern, cells, a bakery and the old enclosure wall.
Getting there
About 1.5 km from Therma towards Kipos Beach, a rough dirt road climbs for 2 km through ferns and trees; walk the last stretch. The site is fenced and has opened only for a few services each summer. A sign at the gate says visits are by appointment; the number given for appointments is +30 2551 041474.
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