The holy monastery of Archangel Michael, literally enthroned on a natural expanse with a high altitude and from there, from the N.E. peaks of Paikos, oversees the peaks of Jena and Pinovo on the plateau of Vorra. Its building line is simple and imposing. It is 40 km from Aridea, through a very beautiful and quiet route.
The village of Archangelos is located 3 km south of the Monastery, facing the legendary for the battles that took place there in the First World War, the village of Skra. In 1973 a group of archaeologists, after a cursory investigation, discovered tombs paved with rectangular slabs from the Roman era. In 1912, by order of the Greek administration, the village was called "Osani" or "Osiani". Later the village was named with the Latin pronunciation of "Hostiani" or "Hostianous" while it is said that it was donated by Alexios I Comnenus to his general Leo Kephalas. After some time, his son Nikiforos donated the village estates to the monastery of Megistis Lavra (Mount Athos), on which the monastery of Archangel Michael was later built.
The history of the monastery is identical with that of Almopia in recent centuries. Time, you have the feeling, is frozen in its walls. The monastery is believed to have been founded in the period 1181-1184.
The Archangelos monastery, in 1790, had the same fate as the Promachon monastery, i.e. it was besieged and destroyed by the Turks. His monks were all killed. It was then that the inhabitants of the South were converted to Islam, and they undertook the work of burning.
Monks and parishioners, those who were not killed, scattered and the desolation of the monastery lasted more than half a century. In 1858, with the permission of the Sultan, the monastery was re-established. The initiative is attributed to the metropolitan of Moglen, Meletios. With the re-establishment of the monastery, we also renamed it Archangel Michael Monastery. It is probable that this was done in memory of the salvation of the inhabitants of the village from the fury of the converts to Islam on the day of the feast of the Archangel. With its re-establishment, the monastery regains its properties with an official document from the Turkish administration. Then her intense intellectual and educational activity begins. Greek letters are taught in her cells.
From the monastery came the first literates, who in turn educated residents of the wider area. With the passage of time we reach the legendary era of the Macedonian Struggle. The monastery contributes, with the offer of its spaces and the conspiratorial work of its monks, to the great national cause. Its current position, its natural accesses, turn it into a station for passing Greek guerrilla bodies.
According to the reports of Greek officers, the monastery is considered a central weapons depot. Captain Matapas was hospitalized in her cell between December and February 1905, when he broke his leg. He also used the disguise of a priest of the Monastery many times for cover.
In addition to the famous captain, other fighters, such as Valanis and Dragas, took refuge in her for resupply and rest. This activity was quickly noticed by the committee members, who however limited themselves to written threats. Letters of the chief comedian Apostol Petkov with such content are still preserved.
Today it has six monks and one cadet.
The western wall, to the left of the western entrance of the Archangel Michael Monastery, is decorated with the story of the martyrdom of the local Saint of Mogleni, Saint Chrysis. The successive images of the martyrdom have no inscriptions, because the tradition of the Saint, who was martyred on October 13, 1795, was alive and well known to the inhabitants of the area.
The beautiful daughter is captured by Turks outside her village, while together with other girls she collects wood, to be taken to the house of "Agarinos", whose heart was filled with satanic love.
In the second icon, Saint Chrysis receives the blessing of her spiritual one to withstand the test. The scenes of her torture and gruesome execution follow
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou
