Monuments and Sights of Agiasos

Monuments - Sights

The church of Panagia, a major tourist attraction on the island, is a three-aisle basilica, surrounded by high walls since it was once a monastery. Inside, in front of the iconostasis, on an inclined support stands the miracle working icon of Our Lady dating from the 4^th century a.D. It was brought to Agiassos from Jerusalem by the monk Agathon the Ephesian . Directly above a silver gilt replica of the icon dating from the 12 cent. a.D. A number of old icons dating from the Byzantine era are set on the ledges of the iconostasis. For more information about the Church, see “History of the village”.

“The Garden of Our Lady” is a cool area with a lovely view of the village from below. Here stands the 600 year-old towering plane tree with its enormous branches, under which Eleftherios Venizelos is said to have danced.
The chapel of “Holy Apostoles” (Agion Apostolon), located inside the yard walls of the Church of Panagia is of remarkable architecture and the chapel of “ the Life-giving source” (Zoodochou Pigis), where, legend says, Agathon the Ephesian, the monk who brought the miracle-worker icon of Panagia from Agiassos, built his hermitage during the Iconoclast times.

The Sacred Church of Trinity, the second largest church in Agiassos, is located in the “Kamboudi” area in the upper entrance of the village. Built in 1870, it is a replica of the Church of Panagia and other Basilicas of the 18^th century.
The church has many remarkable icons, some of which date back to the 17^th century. Noteworthy is the small but elegant church bell tower.
The church’s fair is held on the feast day of the Holy Spirit, marking the beginning of summer for all village activities. Access to the church is easiest by taking the upper entrance to the village, is found if you turn left at the crossroad leading to Megalochori.

The Market Square lined with neoclassical style coffee houses (“kafeneio”).
The "Kasteli" is a magnificent verdurous height covered in pine trees at an altitude of 600m, northwest of the town. Here stands two picturesque little church among flower gardens and vegetable patches, one of which is dedicated to the Archangel. Ruins of a medieval fortification can also be seen.
Just before we make our ascent to Agiassos, we come across the “Reservoir of Karyni” plunged in perennial planes dating from the Roman times. One of these planes is a tourist attraction because of the enormity of its hollow.

Folk Art Museum. The museum operates from January to December and is located in the Church yard. One of the exhibits is the life-size model of a room in a traditional house of Agiassos. The museum collections include fine works of folk art (embroidery, textile works, traditional costumes, old copperware etc.), old jewelry which are pilgrims’ offerings to the church (rings, bracelets, ear-rings, broaches, barrettes etc), an old coin collection etc. An “Agiassotiki gonia” (traditional corner of Agiassos) is exhibited at the Museum.

Ecclesiastical Museum. The museum operates in the Church yard. Its collection items include: The Holy Rood made with wood from the True Cross, the sacred relics of the Saints, holy vessels, old hanging oil-lamps (18^th century), a stole embroidered with gold (ecclesiastical vestment) (16^th cent.), an embroidered epitaph of Panagia (Our Lady), embroidered testers (canopy over alter or pulpit) an old icon-stand, an old piece of “Venetian ” furniture etc.