026 GREECE - Monastery of Nea Moni (WHS)

Nea Moni is an 11th-century monastery on the island of Chios. It is located on the Provateio Oros Mt. in the island's interior, about 15km from Chios town. It is well known for its mosaics, which, together with those at Daphni and Hosios Loukas, are among the finest examples of "Macedonian Renaissance" art in Greece.

The monastery was built in the mid 11th-century, by Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos and his wife. According to tradition, it is built on the location where three monks miraculously found an icon of the Virgin Mary, hanging from a branch of myrtle. At that time, Constantine was exiled in nearby Lesbos and the monks visited him and told of a vision according to which he would eventually become emperor. Constantine promised to build a church if this should come to pass. Indeed, in 1042, Constantine became emperor and in gratitude began constructing the monastery, dedicated to the Theotokos. The main church was inaugurated in 1049 and the complex finished in 1055, after Constantine's death.

About the sender

Helena Lut (direct swap) sent from Haarlem (Netherlands) on 18.08.2013