On Monday, July 27, the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon will hold its annual feast. The Monastery is situated at an altitude of 770 m above the traditional village of Mikro Kazaviti. Although the festivities are spread over four days, the main celebration day is on Monday.

The food and festivities include the serving of “Klubani” in the village of Megalos Prinos, a local dish of meat and barley cooked in large pots. Known locally as “Kazavitiana”, the days around the feast feature traditional folk music, dancing, and local fairs. Megalos Prinos is an adjoining village to Mikro Kazaviti, a kilometre further along the road.

The location of the monastery is where an icon of Saint Panteleimon was miraculously found, leading to the construction of the church in 1843. In 1987, it was converted into a women’s monastery. Next to the church, there is a cave that the healer Saint Panteleimon is said to have lived as a hermit.

Over the centuries, the cave’s stalactites and stalagmites have formed a natural trough, from which holy water gushes, which, according to the faithful, works miracles. The cave stays freezing cold even in the summer!

To visit the monastery, take the road situated in the centre of the village of Prinos that leads up into the island’s centre. After 4.5 km, you will arrive in the small hamlet of Mikro Kazaviti; as you enter the centre, to the right, you will see a sign for the monastery. The road leading up mainly serves the monastery, but is one of the best on the island!

All are welcome