Churches and Monasteries

Many of the churches of Ios have been declared historical landmarks mainly of the post-Byzantine era since they are typical examples of temple architecture of the Cyclades.

 

The churches of Ios that have been declared historical landmarks are the following:

  1. Panagia Gremiotissa, in Chora
  2. Agios Ioannis the Forerunner, in Chora
  3. Agia Ekaterini, in Chora
  4. Agios Nikolaos – Lazarou, in Chora
  5. Panagia Chrysopigi, in Chora
  6. Evangelismos, in Chora
  7. Agios Nikolaos – Agia Varvara, in Chora
  8. Agios Nikolaos, in Chora
  9. Agios Georgios, in Chora
  10. Timios Stavros or Stavrou Church, in Chora
  11. Panagia Faneromeni, in Chora
  12. Agios Vasileios, in Chora
  13. Agios Andreas and Agia Kyriaki, in Chora
  14. Agios Ioannis o theologos and Agios Panteleimon
  15. Church of Taxiarches or Theoskepasti, in Chora
  16. Ta Isodia tis theotokou (Metochi) or Panagia Amorgiani, in Chora
  17. Panagia Katholiki, in Chora
  18. Agios Georgios, in the Port
  19. Agia Irini, in the Port


The landscape of Ios is determined by the numerous churches and chapels that are scattered everywhere and are, as one would say, an integral part of the beauty of the island. The local tradition wants the churches of the island to be 365, one for each day of the year, while at the same time the cross in the churches of Chora should be of marble, while in the chapels, of stone. In addition, the back side of the sanctuary of small churches, according to a local custom, is used as ossuary. Other important churches on the island are the church of Agios Ioannis in Psathi, Agia Theodoti located in the area by the same name and is the oldest church on the island built in the 16th century on the ruins of an ancient temple of the god Apollo, Prophet Elias, located at the highest peak of the island, Agios Ioannis in Pyrgos, Kountoutiani in Chora and the monastery of Agios Ioannis in Kalamos. Many of the churches of Ios have been declared historical landmarks, mainly of the post-Byzantine period, since they are typical examples of island temple architecture of the Cyclades.

Churches

Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary 

 

To date, there are 22 churches on the borders of the main settlement. The Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation, the work of the Association of Inhabitants of Ios, was inaugurated in 1931 and for its construction it was considered appropriate to demolish an adjacent smaller church, dedicated to Agios Nikolaos.

Agia Irini

 

The church of Agia Irini is located at the entrance of the port in Gialos and was built there to welcome the visitors of the island. It is a peculiar building of particular interest. When the hatch opens to moor the boat in Nio, what the visitor sees is Agia Irini seemingly put in a frame. The view from the church is also unique. Picturesque, simple and well-photographed. An off-white beautiful small church perched on a rocky spot at the entrance to the port. It is visible from all parts of Gialos.

Gremiotissa

 

The Church of Panagia Gremiotissa has been named after the highest point of the steep slope of Chora, where it was built in 1779. About its construction it is said that: “During the Turkish occupation, some pious Cretans, in order to save the icon religious painting] of the Virgin Mary, put it on a raft, lit a candle and left it in the sea. The icon was found by local farmers in the bay of Mylopotas wedged in the rocks and was transported to the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. But every night, the icon left its place and was found in the church of Agios Eleftherios, which is located near today’s Panagia Gremiotissa, where it remained. When it was decided to build a Church there to house the icon, every morning the marks of the builders were missing and were found in a steep location, inaccessible and larger than the planned location for the church. The inhabitants realized that they had to build the Church in the place that “looked” towards Crete, as was done with the personal work of the inhabitants.
On August 15 every year, the procession of the icon takes place in the little streets of Chora, after the morning service that follows the evening service of the previous day”.

 

Panagia Kountoutiani

The Church of Panagia Kountoutiani owes its name to the existence of an underground sewer pipe, kountouto, which “passed” near the church. Remarkable is the peculiar construction of the church of Agios Georgios in Kato Piatsa and Agia Aikaterini, built near the Cathedral, on the foundations of the temple of Pythian Apollo, whose worship was widespread in Ios in antiquity.