Iero Koinovio Evangelismos Theotokou — Local services in Polygyros Municipality

Patriarchal and Stavropegic Holy Cenobium of the Annunciation of the Theotokos. The Dependency of the Mount Athos Holy Monastery of Simonopetra. The convert which is introduced to us with this long, accurate title, is situated at the fertile plain of Ormylia which is totally connected to its founder, Holy Simon the Myrovlytis.

The Holy Monastery of Simonopetra, which is ranked 13th in the hierarchical order of the Athonite community, exists for centuries, already from the actions of Saint Simon in early 1200. The Dependency, pointing towards the West just like most monasteries, has taken its final form, with the main entrance and the guest quarters (known in Greek as archontariki), in 1982. The steep cobbled road with the olives trees which starts in front of the guest quarters reveals to the visitor the convent but also the magical environment that surrounds these facilities which offer unique care. Its cool, verdant courtyard prepares the visitor for what is going to follow, while the old church which is dedicated to the Annunciation, is the oldest building of the Vatopedi Dependency (1842).

The convent's farm impresses with the wealth of its produce. Chalkidiki olives, green, ripe black olives and Kalamata olives variety, olive oil, flower and pine honey, all sorts of jams and unique quality liqueurs (mastic, cherry, limoncello, walnut, cherry, medlar, pomegranate). At the southern side of the Dependency are the workshops where the nuns continue the tradition of artistic creative expression through icon painting, the drawing room, the tailor’s workshop for sacerdotal vestments, the weaving workshop, the embroidery workshop, the workshop for woodcarving and mosaics. The diverse actions of Ormylia are complemented by the publications of liturgical texts, catechisms, the lives of the Saints, etc. holy...

Sisters are very friendly you can chat with them in the open space because od COVID, but also you can visit their shop full of organic product of olives which they pick by themselves. Very holy and sacred place, in the Sithonia, my favourite destination in Greece. Near beaches, near other places at Sithonia, by car just aprox 15 minutes from town Nikiti and near place called Ormylia also. We loved this huge place around monastery and donated in church. Please wear masks when near sisters, lets protect them. They speak english and are very very educated and cheerfull. Love their life! At the end od September there were plenty of tourists there in the Sunday morning (11am)! :-) even with very little children. Weather beautiful as well. This became our obligatory place to visit every time in this part of Greece. Regards to all the sisters. God bless you. -Marijana, Natalija, Jacob (Željko-wish) and Radivoj...

This is place of quet and serenity. Notihing else could be said without seeing and sensing monastery by yourself. Giving ratings and stars seems little out of place in this case. It is not important if you are ortodox or not, sisters will treat you like fellow human, just BE RESPECTFULL at all times. There can be laugh and there can be some other conversations, more serious… In any case every soul is just that in this small part of what is nice and good in this world. Just few practicical things more: there is monastery shop which is noteworthy (natural cosmetics, olive oil, religious art - all done by sisters). The other thing is: DO NOT come dressed in short pants if you are man and there are rules for women too. If you are visiting sisters and their home think about...