Panagia Kechria Monastery

The church of Panagia lies in a lush green valley of olive and pine trees overlooking the Kechria bay and its beautiful beach.

From here, an uphill path, crossing ravines with old watermills, streams and ferns, leads to the Kechria Monastery.                                                               

Dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and celebrated annually on August 23rd  , the monastery was founded in the 16th century.

Today, all that remains from the monastery complex is the katholikon, the main church building. The two monk cells in the northwest corner are more recent buildings set on an older foundation.                                                       

Restored in the 18th century, the church features carved wooden iconostasis, of which the despotic icons are of particular importance and, along with the pulpit, are kept separately in the Museum of Evangelistria Monastery.

The interior walls of the church are richly decorated with ancient frescos of high artistic and historical value. Especially noteworthy, is the fresco depicting Monk Gregory Annis, who served as abbot to the monastery in the mid 18th century.

The Greek Ministry of Culture has designated not only the Monastery of Panagia Kechrias as a historical monument, but has extended the denomination to its wider surroundings.

This beautiful, if somewhat secluded monastery is well worth visiting to appreciate its treasure of important ecclesiastical relics, and to enjoy the sweeping view of its surrounding scenery, and beautiful, very popular Kechria Beach.