In the village of Ano Meros Amari, on Mount Kedros, at an altitude of 1000 m, is the Monastery of the Transfiguration of Sotiros (or Kaloidena). There are several versions of the name. One refers to the legend of Kaloidena and is related to the finding of the miraculous image. A girl from the opposite village of Fourfouras, seeing a flame, from the location of the later monastery, discovered the icon of Sotiros and exclaimed in surprise "well I saw it". This is how the name Kaloidena came about. The second version is related to historical documents that state that the name Kaloidas, probably of Byzantine origin, has existed since Venetian times. The village of Fourfouras is also mentioned as the home of the Kaloidas.
Based on the frescoes of the temple, the Monastery was founded between the 13th and 14th centuries. In 1577, in Barozzi's report, there is talk of Caloidhena in the province of Amari, while in 1598, in the will of monk Varouhas, there is a reference to the "monastery of Sotiros Christos of Kaloidena". The Monastery continued to function during the years of the Turkish occupation and was helped by the large Varouha family. The monks were engaged in silk cultivation and olive cultivation as well as sour cherry production. In October 1823, the Turks destroyed the Monastery along with other monasteries in the area, which they considered to be helping the Chainides in their revolutionary action. From then until today the Monastery remains deserted and abandoned. In 1992, after the collapse of the dome of the church, it was decided to restore it, which was completed in 2001, preserving the form of the original building.
Editor: Niki Kalopaidis