A Beginner's Guide To Hydra Island

On the Greek island of Hydra you will discover abbeys, churches, chapels and roadway side offeratories (I am still searching for the correct name for the little spiritual boxes which contain candles, matches etc so you can make your prayer offering,) with the majority of the bigger available to the general public when not officially being utilized for a service. The bigger structures such as the Cathedral of the Presumption of the Virgin Mary are designated as a monastery, which implies that weddings can not be carried out in them (only baptisms & funeral services).

The Cathedral is beautiful and you are more than welcome, so long as you are dressed appropriately, to stroll within the boundaries of the cloisters and even go into the Cathedral Church itself. Taking photographs or shooting is not enabled without the express authorization of the Bishop. You can see Katerina in the Ecclesiastical Museum (who speaks English) to make a request of the Bishop on your behalf.

The Cathedral is designated as a Monastery therefore it is just utilized for services, baptisms and funerals. Marriages can not take place in an Abbey. The Mayor's Workplace including the Registrar (for births, deaths & marriages) utilize the grand reception rooms opposte the main entrance to the Cathedral Church. Although the Registrar has a workplace, because of the Monastery status, it is not possible to have a civil wedding on the grounds. So Windows registry weddings are held off the premises at a place picked by the bride and groom.

The monastery of Panagia Zourva is among the most remote of the Greek Orthodox monasteries on Hydra Island Greece. It is reached over land or by means of 645 steps up from Zourva Bay if you go to the end of the island by boat. Its name day is commemorated on the 8th of September.

The Zourva Monestery is a complex of structures with the primary church at the centre.

It is a totally operating monestery, which is run by just five nuns who live and work there all year.

In addition to the primary church there are various dedicated chapels and lots of buildings with simple rooms where members of the congregation, going to Greek Orthodox clergy or practitioneers can be accommodated.

Along with their religious responsibilities and observances, the nuns work tirelessly to preserve the agreekadventure.com/ buildings, grow their own food and tend their animals.

The 8th of September is the Name Day of Panagia Zourva when the nuns host numerous visitors for the service. A few of the parish get here to stick with the nuns the week before to assist with the preparations.

The name day service begins early in the morning around 6am. Numerous Hydriots, particularly those who have decsendants buried at the abbey or were baptised there, will go out of Hydra harbour at around 7am to make the 'expedition' to the monastery. Some will walk nearly 7km each method. Others will take a boat or water taxi along the coast to the bottom of the cliff at Zourva Bay and then walk the 645 actions up to the top.

On Name Days everybody is first welcomed with much required water and coffee. The parish often bring clothes to change into and can Hydra greece utilize the accommodation rooms to swop their outfits. Even babies are welcome to use the accommodation for 'power naps' before being introduced to the neighborhood. My five month old grandson made his very first trip this year (2017) to satisfy the nuns and his Daddy (Vasilis) paid his aspects to his grandparents who are buried at one of the abbey's chapels. Everyone cools off after the 'walking', watching the light creep into the bay as the sun climbs to its zenith, prior to signing up with the churchgoers in the main church or on its terrace.