Iera Moni Sotiros Monastery — Local services in Skopelos Municipality

When my wife and I saw reviews about this place that mentioned the monk's unfriendly behaviour, we thought: that seems odd how rude can a man of God be? Well, on the day that we went there, spectacularly so, as it transpired - and spectacularly misogynistic too. I'd turned up in shorts, intending to put on long trousers when we arrived. But I forgot to pack them in the car so walked up to the entrance gate dressed as I was, thinking I might be refused access. My wife had a long-sleeved top and long trousers on. He let us both in. But he shouted 'out! out!' at two Swiss women also dressed in shorts who arrived at the same time, and pushed them back through the entrance gate. Their male partners, also in shorts, were let in. He then muttered 'women' in an angry voice, stood scowling behind us like an overseer as we looked inside his beautiful church (no video, no photos allowed), and ordered one of the Swiss men to delete a photo taken outside the building that included him in the background. Finally, the monk spat loudly several times just behind us as we left the compound, destroying any last vestige of pleasure that my wife and I might have taken from our visit. Conclusion: I and others had defiled his sanctuary by showing bare flesh. In which case why let the improperly dressed men in at all, and then shout at and physically eject the improperly dressed women? How sad that my Greek didn't stretch far enough to ask him...

Realy beautiful monastery with a realy nice church and a floor build of hundreds of little single stones. The monk opend the door for us after looking arround and after we asked if taking a picture is allowed outside. Very nice building and plant, of course taking pictures inside of the church is not allowed.... Yes he is hard to understand but he helped when needed (unlocked the door) and stayed in the background (while we where looking arround). We also spend some money for the church and get some traditional sweets when leaving. Take the chance and walk a while on the path left of the monastery, nice view and...

We arrived after doing the trail and the priest screamed at all to go away because this was not a beach or a cabaret and to dress up because we were naked (it’s August and we were wearing shorts, we also covered ourselves with our towels to show respect before knocking to visit inside). He was very very rude to us for no reason while he let an older couple that was dressed the same at us in. There were also shirts outside to cover ourselves, but I think the point is that THE MONK IS THE PROBLEM, also looking at the other reviews. Sucks because the monastery...