Monastic serenity in the Arcadian landscape
Perched on a lush hill overlooking the picturesque village of Stemnitsa in Arcadia, the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, also known as Chrysopigi, is one of the region's most significant religious monuments and a favourite destination for both pilgrims and travellers. Built in 1443—"ten years before the Fall of the City" (Constantinople), according to tradition—its Katholikon is a Byzantine church steeped in history and character.
The Katholikon and the surviving two-storey cell block are remarkable examples of post-Byzantine architecture. Inside the church, the wood-carved iconostasis from the early 19th century and the 17th-century frescoes are particularly striking. The exterior masonry features characteristic ceramic-plastic elements that bear witness to the craftsmanship of the era of its construction.
Of exceptional historical value is the fact that this two-storey cell housed the sessions of the First Peloponnesian Senate from late May to mid-June 1821, where key decrees of the Greek War of Independence were drafted.
Combine your visit to the Monastery with a stroll through Stemnitsa, a traditional settlement with stone watermills and magnificent views of the Lousios Gorge, or include it as a stop on the hiking trails that pass through the area.
The Katholikon and the surviving two-storey cell block are remarkable examples of post-Byzantine architecture. Inside the church, the wood-carved iconostasis from the early 19th century and the 17th-century frescoes are particularly striking. The exterior masonry features characteristic ceramic-plastic elements that bear witness to the craftsmanship of the era of its construction.
Of exceptional historical value is the fact that this two-storey cell housed the sessions of the First Peloponnesian Senate from late May to mid-June 1821, where key decrees of the Greek War of Independence were drafted.
Combine your visit to the Monastery with a stroll through Stemnitsa, a traditional settlement with stone watermills and magnificent views of the Lousios Gorge, or include it as a stop on the hiking trails that pass through the area.
