This location is #39 on our Best Travel Destinations In Greece & Greek Islands Map!
The Monastery of Virgin Mary Chozoviotissa, perched dramatically on the cliffs of Amorgos, Greece, is a striking Greek Orthodox monastery dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary. Carved into the rugged south coast of the island, it clings to a cliff face at an elevation of approximately 984 feet above the Aegean Sea, making it visible only from the sea. This architectural marvel, blending seamlessly with the natural rock, is a testament to human ingenuity and spiritual devotion. Built to house a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, it serves as the patron saint of Amorgos and is a significant pilgrimage site, especially during its annual celebration on November 21. The monastery’s whitewashed walls and labyrinthine interior, with narrow staircases and rock-hewn rooms, create a unique blend of Cycladic architecture and sacred space, drawing visitors for both its spiritual significance and breathtaking views.
Interesting Facts: The monastery, one of the oldest in Greece, spans eight floors connected by narrow stone staircases carved directly into the cliff, with a length of about 131 feet and a maximum width of roughly 16 feet. Its entrance, accessible via 271 steps, sits approximately 33 feet above the ground, originally reached by a hanging ladder, emphasizing its precarious position. The structure houses 15 monastic cells among 72 rooms, including kitchens, ovens, warehouses, cisterns, and wells, all ingeniously integrated into the rock. A notable feature is the small arched chapel containing two inscribed icons of the Virgin Mary and the iron chisel of the head craftsman, relics tied to the monastery’s founding legend. The monks, typically just a few in residence, maintain the tradition of offering visitors psimeni raki (a local liqueur) and loukoumi (a sweet treat), enhancing the hospitality of this sacred site. The monastery’s design, with Byzantine and pointed arches made of porolit from Milos, showcases a functional yet awe-inspiring adaptation to its challenging environment.
History: Founded in the 9th century, around 812–813 AD, the monastery’s origins are linked to the Byzantine Iconoclasm, when a sacred icon of the Virgin Mary is said to have miraculously arrived at Agia Anna Beach from Hozova (or Koziva), Palestine, in the Wadi Qilt area. According to local tradition, monks fleeing persecution sent the icon by sea, and after its arrival, construction began, though initial efforts 853 feet from the current site were mysteriously destroyed nightly until a divine sign—a chisel and tools found nailed to the present location—indicated the correct spot. Renovated in 1088 by Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, who granted it stauropigian rights, the monastery was reinforced after a 1975 landslide damaged its refectory roof and walls, with repairs including a reinforced concrete roof and stabilized foundations. The monastery’s name derives from “Hozovitissa” or “Kozivitissa,” a linguistic corruption of its Palestinian origins, and it remains a vital spiritual and cultural landmark, housing invaluable Byzantine artifacts like manuscripts, vestments, and ecclesiastical utensils from the 10th to 19th centuries.
