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Modern Description: Less than 2km further south along the road, another remarkable ex-monastery comes into view on the left side— the monastery of the Episkopí, seat once of the island's Metropolitan, as its name implies. Here it is the remarkable rock-formation which has given rise to the establishment of the monastery, and which has probably been a place of cult since earliest history. It is worth going round the north side to see the imposing overhang and platform of rock, which has the form of a vast toadstool: in the middle of the field below the church to the northeast an outcrop of rock conserves a square-cut depression which may possibly be of pre-Christian, cultic significance. In addition, there are two springs and sundry caves; and the buildings dominate an area of considerable fertility. Although of dignified profile, the church itself, which was renovated in the 19th century and has been modernised inside, is of less interest than the surrounding ruined buildings and tower. It must have been an important mediaeval fortified monastic settlement, with walls and vaults finely constructed in carefully packed schists rather than the customary rubble-masonry. There are also ancient spolia in the area: a fine Doric capital in front of the west entrance of the church and, prominent in the east wall of the tower, the cut and chamfered stone block from an ancient olive-press.
DARE: 31035

Info: McGilchrist's Greek Islands

(From McGilchrist’s Greek Islands, © Nigel McGilchrist 2010, excerpted with his gracious permission. Click for the books)

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