The dissolved Monastery of Evangelistria (or the Red Church) is located in the area of Mount Skaroi, near the village of Platystoma. The church, dedicated to Evangelistria, was founded (or renovated) by 2 monks in 1478. It was called the Red Church because of the church's masonry of local red clay and argillaceous stones. The Monastery was built in the 16th century and functioned as a versatile religious center with many Metochias and large immovable and movable property. Her property was expropriated and distributed to the landless between 1925-32. Today, the rectangular, renovated church of Evangelistria with a sloping roof, arched windows and marble entrances (with colonnades on the side) can be seen in the area. The oldest icons of the church, "The Annunciation", "Our Lady of the Angels", "Christ the King of Kings" and "Saint John the Forerunner", are works of the Cretan Michael Tzen and date from 1723. The wood-carved and repaired iconostasis brought 5 icons that are now kept together with those of the church in the Collection of Post-Byzantine Icons of Seven Island Art. The Monastery celebrates on March 25.
Editor: Niki Kalopaidis