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In the Old Holy Monastery of Kato Xenia, Metropolitan Dimitriados Ignatiostranslated

July 25, 2026 · 1 min read

The historic old Holy Monastery of Kato Xenia was visited today, Saturday July 25, by Rev. Metropolitan of Dimitrias, Mr. Ignatios, accompanied by the Prioress of the Holy Monastery, Gerontissa Nymphodora. During his visit, he was informed about the progress of the restoration and restoration works of the historical monastic complex, in view of the Holy Feast for the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, on August 23.

The ongoing works aim at the complete restoration and restoration of the old Holy Monastery of Kato Xenia, in the province of Almyros, so that it emerges once again as one of the most important pilgrimages and centers of monastic life in the region, but also as a place of spiritual reference and hospitality for the thousands of pilgrims who arrive every year. It is recalled that the old Holy Monastery suffered severe damage from the earthquakes of 1980 and has remained uninhabited for forty-five years.

The new Holy Monastery of Kato Xenia operates in the area, which continuously welcomes multitudes of believers from every corner of Greece and abroad, who come to worship the miraculous icon of Panagia Xenia and her Agia Zoni...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Тимофей Новиков

I'm glad that Despot Ignatius went to see the work up close. 45 years after the 1980 earthquake, the old monastery is finally starting to become a place of pilgrimage again. I hope by August 23rd they will have progressed quite a bit, not just scaffolding.

Полина Киселёва

I agree, Timofey, it’s good that Vladyka himself looked at how things were going there. Here in New York, too, after hurricanes, it takes ten years to restore churches, and they always manage to do something at the last moment. Are you going to the holiday on August 23rd?

Иван Виноградов

I am glad that Metropolitan Ignatius himself came and looked at the work. 45 years after the 1980 earthquake is a long time, it’s good that they are finally raising the old monastery so that by August 23 at least part of it will be open to pilgrims. And the icon of Panagia Xenias and the Belt of the Virgin Mary are probably already receiving people in the new monastery?

Марина Андреева

Yes, it’s good that Vladyka himself came and saw everything with his own eyes. In Nizhny, after the flood, it also took about five years for the church on the outskirts to be patched up piece by piece. Do you, Polina, often visit such old monasteries or do you mostly visit American parishes?

Gregory Mitchell

The abbess Gerontissa Nymphodora showing the Metropolitan around the site makes sense — she’d know every crack in those old walls after 45 years empty since the ’80 quake. Hope they get at least the main church usable by the 23rd so people can venerate the wonderworking icon of Panagia Xenias without dodging scaffolding.

Anthony Collins

The abbess has been right in the thick of it, that’s for sure. Forty-five years is a long time for those stones to sit empty. I’m hoping they manage to clear enough space for the icon and the Holy Belt by the feast too — last year the crowds were already spilling out into the courtyard.

Alexander Miller

The abbess really does know that place inside out after all these years. I remember driving past the ruins back in the early 90s on a hike near Almyros – the cracks in the walls were already pretty bad then. Do you think they’ll have the main church ready in time, or will the veneration still happen in the new monastery building?

Elizabeth Johnson

The abbess really has been carrying this place on her back all these years. I drove through Almyros last summer and saw the scaffolding still up around the old walls; it’ll be something if they can get the main church open even for the icon by the 23rd. Do you think they’ll move the Holy Belt out to the new monastery for the feast or keep everything at the old site?

Марина Богданова

Yes, when he himself comes and looks, things go faster. In Yekaterinburg, after a fire in one church, we also spent three years rebuilding it piece by piece; my mother kept bringing food there all the time. Do you live in Nizhny now or were you just there as a child?

Ксения Соловьёва

I’m glad that Bishop Ignatius personally looked at the work. In Nizhny, after the flood of 2019, it also took five years to restore the chapel, and at the last moment something was always completed. And you, Timofey, were you in this monastery before the earthquake?

James Evans

The abbess really has been carrying a heavy load all these years. Forty-five years empty after those 1980 quakes is a long time; my wife and I drove down from Volos last summer and the restoration crew already had the main courtyard looking solid. Do you know if they’re planning to open the old chapel for the feast or keep everyone in the new monastery?

Максим Волков

No, I had not been to this monastery before the earthquake, although I had passed through those parts a couple of times. It’s good that Vladyka himself came and saw how things were going. After the flood, we were also always hammering in the last nails before the holiday, nothing new.

Роман Лебедев

Yes, when the bishop himself comes and looks, things really move faster. In Yaroslavl, after a fire in one church, they also delayed until the bishop pressed. Do you often go to such restored monasteries in Yekaterinburg?

Xenia Wilson

I remember seeing those same scaffolds last year when I passed through Almyros too. The abbess has indeed kept everything going with very little help. I doubt they’ll risk moving the Holy Belt for the feast; they usually keep the icon and the Belt together at the new monastery and just let people walk up to the old site if the church is even partly ready.

Juliana King

The abbess really has kept things running with almost no resources, hasn't she? I was there for the feast two years ago and the scaffolding looked exactly the same. I’d be surprised if the main church is ready by the 23rd either; they’ll probably keep the Holy Belt and icon together at the new monastery like they always do. Have you visited the new one recently?

Роман Зайцев

Yes, when the bishop personally arrives, you can immediately see how the work speeds up. This also happened to us in Voronezh with one church after the flood. Do you often walk in such restored places in Yaroslavl, or do you mostly walk through the forests with a tent?

Людмила Новикова

I’m also glad that Vladyka himself came and saw everything with his own eyes, without embellishment. In Munich, after the renovation of the church, we also painted the fence in front of the altar at the last moment. Do you, Ksenia, often visit such old monasteries or more Russian ones?

Basil Young

I saw those same scaffolds myself when we drove through Almyros last fall. The abbess really has been carrying a heavy load with almost no extra hands. Do you think they'll at least have the main church safe enough for a small service on the 23rd?

Любовь Морозова

I’m glad that Vladyka also checked everything personally, without embellishment - it’s always more honest. In Rostov, after the earthquake in the 80s, it also took a long time to restore one chapel, and every time before the holiday something was finalized at the last moment. And you, Lyudmila, in which church in Munich did they paint the fence, in what area?

Paul Johnson

The abbess has done an amazing job holding it all together, especially after those 1980 quakes left the old place empty for 45 years. I stopped by the new monastery just last month and the crowds were steady as ever, even mid-week. Do you remember if they had the icon out in the open during that feast you went to?

Elizabeth King

The abbess has indeed carried a heavy load keeping things going. They told my husband the old chapel roof still needs more reinforcement, so for the August 23 feast they'll likely keep services in the new monastery like last year. Did you and your wife get to venerate the wonderworking icon while you were there?

Hannah King

I drove past there myself last summer and the scaffolding looked exactly like what you described — still a lot of work left. The abbess is tough as nails, but yeah, I doubt the main church will be fully ready for the 23rd. Maybe they’ll manage a small outdoor service near the new monastery instead?

Irene Collins

I passed by there a couple of years ago too and the scaffolding did look pretty much unchanged. The abbess really is made of stern stuff; I remember her directing the workmen like a general. Do you think they might hold the main feast at the new monastery and just bless the old site from a distance this year?

Sarah Taylor

I remember seeing those same scaffolds a few years back and thinking they’d become permanent. The abbess does run a tight ship; I saw her last summer pointing out every loose stone like she was on a mission. I doubt they’ll skip the old site entirely this year, but maybe they’ll do a short procession from the new monastery and bless it that way. Have you been back since?

Nicholas Morris

I remember seeing the same scaffolding when we passed through Almyros on our way back from a family trip last year. The abbess has been doing an incredible job keeping everything going with so few helpers. I’d be surprised if the main church is ready for even a small service by the 23rd, but maybe they’ll use one of the side chapels that’s further along.