The Agnountos Monastery is a remarkable Christian monument of Byzantine Art and local architecture, which evokes admiration to its visitors and its researchers.

Topography and origin of name

This Monastery has been built on the slope of a beautiful site, at a small distance from the boundaries of Korinthia-Epidavria in Greece. It is surrounded by olive-groves, bush covered rocky hills and mountains covered with forests. It is 7 Klm away from New Epidavros and about 20 Klm away from Ancient Theatre of Epidavros.

There is a very old local tradition concerning the choice of the place where the Monastery was built. It is said that one night, a dim light suddenly appeared, like an earthly star, on the neighboring mountain “Asprovouni”{White mountain}, which lit the wooded, uninhabited surrounding area. Travellers passing from the nearby ancient road were guided by this light and found the buried icon of the Virgin Mary. They built the Monastery near the place.

The name of Agnountos Monastery originates from the Greek Verb”agnantevo”, which means, “to gaze”. It is possible however, that it originates from the ancient Greek word “agnous”, a water-loving bush which is nowadays called “osier” and grows abundantly around a small pond to the West of the Monastery 

Date of the Monastery’s Founding

There is no dedicatory inscription or other written document concerning the date the Monastery was founded. Researchers estimate that it was built during the 11^th century. Their view is supported by monks’ made graffiti bearing dates and found in various places around the Monastery. The oldest amond them date from 1029 and 1158.Architectural and technical criteria support the above-mentioned estimation  

Description.

 The Monastery is surrounded by high and solid fortification walls, with towers and loop-holes as protective means from invaders at times piratical raids and during the Turkish occupation .The monks’ cells were built two stores –high in the inner perimeter of the walls. On the ground floor, there is the hearth {cooking-room}, the bakehouse, the dining – room, cloakrooms and storage space for church utensils and food. There is also an olive – press, secret water – cistern {reserved for times of siege}, and guest rooms. A special cell existed where fire was continuously kept lit, so that monks, especially the elders, could keep warm on cold nights, when divine services were performed during the night. On the top – floor, besides the cells, there was the abbot’s room, the reception hall for distinguished guests, the library, watchtowers and storerooms for ammunition.Outside the curtain-wall of the Monastery, there was a stable, a pottery workshop, grind-mills for grain and underground cisterns for the collection of rain –water, as there were no nearby springs.

      Architecture

The church of the Monastery rises in the center of the stone-covered yard. Its architectural rhythm is a combination of Byzantine cruciform and early Christian basilica. Its construction has rare, or even unique architectural peculiarities.

Eight pillars support the superstructure of the church, four on each sidewall facing each other and curving at their top section. The two pairs in the East and West edges end up in arcs. The other two end in spherical triangles. Over these, are formed elliptical quarter – spherical domes. These arcs and domes support the central octagonal dome. Similar architectural concepts we meet only in the temple of St.Sophia in Constantinople.

The main features of the church  are its harmony and symmetry that it presents both at its longitudal and horizontal axis, as well as its vertical sections and floor plans.

Incorporated in its masonry, we find white marble parts from ancient constructions in second use.

The Frescos and the iconontasis

The interior of the church is covered with frescos of exquisite skill. They date back to 1250 and this is why this church is included among the top churches in Greece, regarding the number of its wall paintings. Scenes from the Old and New Testament are portrayed. The holy icons were painted in 1759.

The iconostasis is wood-carved, of very good and fine popular art of the time, with beautiful golden-scarlet coloring. It has carved pictures with leaves, fruit, branches and small birds. An engraved inscription informs us that it was made in 1713.

Property of the Monastery.

During the first centuries following it’s founding the Monastery acquired large property. It possessed thousands of acres of olive-groves, grain fields, vineyards and many pine-forests. The monks, who cultivated the surrounding barren area, created this estate. The Monastery also had hundreds of sheep and a number of larger animals for agricultural work.

Activities of the Monastery

During its approximate 10 centuries-long lifetime, the Monastery presented intense social, religious and national activity, especially during the period of the Turkish occupation.

After the liberation, it helped as much as its financial capabilities permitted, in the support of the New Greek state.

Nowadays, the Monastery is deserted and belongs to the women’s Monastery of Taxiarches. During the last years, major restoration work has been done, as the passing of time and other causes has ruined many of its structural parts.

 How to contact the Agnountos Monasterie

Agnountos Monasterie

New Epidavros-Greece-Zip Code 21054   TEL.0753-31241