A VISIT TO THE HISTORIC MONASTERY OF AGIOS NIKOLAOS PSALTΟS
In Lindos, just a few meters away from our hotel, Mitsis Lindos Memories, the historic monastery of Agios Nikolaos Psaltos is situated. It is an orthodox monastery which, according to tradition, was built a few years after the missionary journey of Paul the Apostle from Rhodes (54 AD). The location itself, the monastery and the legends surrounding it offer a breath of peace and tranquility to the visitor.
The monastery has functioned undisturbed over the centuries.
During the period of the Knights in Rhodes and also during the difficult years of Ottoman rule, the place was generally respected, although it declined for a period due to a decrease in the numbers of monks. According to the legend, in 4th century AD Saint Helen passed through Rhodes and in memory of her visit to the monastery, she left a small piece of Holy Wood. More likely, the first monks who had arrived from Mount Sinai left this precious legacy to the later generations.
According to tradition, a large amount of the stones used to build the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople came from the quarries of the area, which were famous for their compact and elegant stone. Today, so many centuries later, you can admire and worship two important icons of the Orthodox faith: Saint Nicholas, the founder of the monastery, a work of the 17th century, and the later icon of Saint Nektarios, which in December 2017, gushed forth myrrh, while according to another version, the Saint’s hands were bloodied. Both icons are an important pilgrimage for Orthodox Greeks who flock from many parts of Rhodes and beyond, to pray and ask for the intercession and mercy of the two Saints.
Today, the abbot of the monastery, Father Spyridonas is trying to “resurrect” the monastery of Agios Nikolaos Psaltos “in the difficult times of rationalism”.
If you visit the monastery, he will show you around the main church and show you the ``hot-points`` of history and tradition.
Rhodes, or otherwise the Island of the Knights, is not merely the island of entertainment and seaside rest, it is also the island of living Orthodoxy, as you can tangibly see and experience in the small, emblematic holy monastery of Agios Nikolaos Psaltos.