This monastery was founded in the Byzantine era, as the first reference to it in official documents was found in 1264. The centuries that followed were deserted and re-established in 1579, when three women from the Castle bought the estate and settled there for the purpose of lonking. The Monastery rapidly evolved into a female community, in which the year of 1639 and the Greek-ruled Princess Roxane, which in addition to its great fortune, dedicated to the monastery and the sacred relic from the right foot (foot) of Apostle Andrew, to which he is the hole is visible from the crucible’s nail. The monastery bears the nickname “Milapidia” because of its unique tree that grows in the area and comes from the crossing of apple and pear.

Today, the nuns are engaged in textiles, hieroprints, hagiography, handicraft, hospitality and charity, as well as agricultural crops and gardens. The Monastery also houses a portable imagery maintenance workshop.

The monastery celebrates twice a year: on November 30th on the memory of Apostle Andrew and on the Friday of Diakonisimou in memory of Zoodohos Pigi, who is also the Second Protector of the Monastery. During the celebrations, a ceremonial process takes place, followed by an honorary litany and finally the rich nuns are presented by the nuns to the present.

In the Monastery one can also visit the Ecclesiastical Byzantine Museum, which was founded in 1988 and since 2002 was housed in its own building built for this purpose. The collection of the museum was preserved by the 6th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities, preserved the collection and formed the exhibition that covers four centuries of religious and artistic expression of the creators of the island. The museum exhibits frescoes, hagiographies, portraits, carvings, ecclesiastical garments and pastoral rods of saints and patriarchs, goldsmith’s and miniature craftsmen, handwritten letters of Saint Cosmas of Aitolian, and other important heirlooms.

The monastery receives daily visits between 7.00am and 2.00pm. and 17.00pm – 20.00pm

The museum is open daily between 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM. except on Sundays and public holidays.