Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Monastery)

THE CATHEDRAL OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY - HYDRA "Monastery"

The historic monastery of Hydra, the Monastery of "FANEROMENI" and now Cathedral of our Metropolis, is the jewel of our glorious island of so many heroes and saints. It's the Monastery - so call today - who acted during the period of slavery of the Nation and the days of the struggle for national revolution and took responsibilities and important initiatives.

From historical sources the first establishing placed before the year 1655. The story of Anthony Miaoyli "About the Island of Hydra," says that the Monastery was built by the year 1643. The dedication of the Temple performed before the 17th century in the name of St. Haralambos and the commutation was made in the early 17th century. Originally, the monastery was female, formed by a brotherhood of 18 nuns and later became male. In the year 1747 the monastery was changed into Stavropigiaci with a Patriarchal Letter of Patriarch Paisios.

Important figure in the evolution of the monastery was the abbot Neophytos Zotalis and after his death, his work continued by his nephew Ierotheos Zotalis, who completed the renovation of the monastery in the year 1774.

First Abbot was Lavrentios (1769-1779) and the list goes up with Anthimos (1820-1824).

During the revolution of 1821 in this monastery the Leaders, the Captains of the battleships , the Chieftains and the People were meeting. The Monastery became the center for the liberation of our Nation, so it carries the nickname "Admiralty".

The church is now an art museum, which it still the most important parish of Hydra.

The architecture follows the shape of Byzantine monasteries with clear influences from the years after the Fall of Constantinoypoli. The church is a three-aisled basilica with a dome. The aisles separated by colonnades: The middle is dedicated to the Assumption of Virgin Mary, the right on Agios Charalambos and the left to St. Nikolao. The major reredos constructed when the Abbot of the Monastery was Ierotheos the 2nd by architect Gabriel. It is made all from pure white marble with rich and intense relief decoration (sculpture crosses, exergue, parapets, Ionic colonnettes etc.). It has the most valuable and remarkable icons of the temple with rich decoration which were gifts to the church by wealthy residents of Hydra and the captains of the battleships.

The overall decoration of the temple is amazing: The efestios picture of "Faneromeni" is located in the old marble proskynetarion of the Temple, icons of the iconostasis and portable icons as the Virgin and Child (the Virgin of Maliki), St. Constantine of Hydra, Annunciation of the Theotokos, St. Spyridonos etc.

Chandeliers and Candles add glamour at the view of the Temple: There are four chandeliers, the main chandelier is a work by Kousourelis is silver and indescribable art. The same design style follow the two smaller in the central aisle. The most valuable and legendary is the exafotos (six light) chandelier located near the Oraia Pyli and reached Hydra from France or Spain. It must be emphasized that all the chandeliers of the Temple and Kandylia are not working with stream but with candles or oil.

Most of the treasures of the monastery exposed in the Ecclesiastical Museum, which operates within the area of ​​the monastery.

The monastery has two spiers. The smaller was built in 1806 and the second and bigger in 1874. Both are marbled with rich sculptural decorations and sounds of bells create awe and devoutness.