Churches & Monasteries of Sifnos
 The
churches,
places intended to meet the needs of Christian worship, are a
characteristic and inextricable element of the Greek landscape.
Their decoration - whether painting, mosaic or other - always
reflects the Orthodox doctrine, following specific style trends and
established iconographic programmes. Over the centuries, important
architects, builders or painters have contributed to the
construction and decoration of the Greek churches, many of which now
are scheduled monuments.
 Like
the churches, monasteries
are closely connected with the history and tradition of Greece. By
"monastery" we mean the total number of buildings in which monks or,
more generally, the members of a religious community live.
Monasteries comprise a central church (called the Catholicon),
chapels, the monks’ cells, guest houses, the dining room (the
refectory), the kitchen, the library, etc.
The institution of monasticism first made its appearance in
the 4th century A.D. with the anchorites (or hermits) and spread
very quickly to other areas of the then Byzantine empire. It
reached a peak around the 10th century A.D. and this led to the
establishment of many monasteries.
In Sifnos there are more than 360 churches and monasteries!
Many of its churches and monasteries have been characterized
historical monuments and they present a huge architectural interest!
Hereinafter, we mention some of the churches and monasteries of
Sifnos:
The Monastery of Vry ssiani in Exambella, Panagia "Geraniofora" in
Apollonia, the churches of Stavros and of Agios Sozon in
Apollonia,
the Monastery of Theologos the Mougos in
Apollonia, the Monastery
of Taxiarchis of the Skafi in Apollonia, Panagia Angeloktisti in
Katavati, the Monastery of Prophitis Helias the Psilos, the
Monastery
of Chrissostomos in Kato Petali, Panagia the Gournia in
Ano Petali,
Agios Antypas in Ano Petali, Agios Konstantinos in
Artemonas, Panagia of Ammos, Panagia Kochi, Panagia of Balis in
Artemonas, the
Monastery of Panagia Poulati at the east coast of Sifnos below
Artemonas, Panagia tou Vounou over Platis Gialos, the Monatery of
Panagia Chrissopigi the protector of Sifnos, the Monastery of
Stavros in Faros, the churches of Panagia Eleoussa, Theoskepasti,
Agios Nikolaos, of the Assumption of the Virgin, of Ioannis
Prodromos, of Agios Stefanos, and of Efta Martires in
Kastro, Agios
Giorgis Afentis, the Monastery of Agios Polycarpos in
Cheronissos,
the Monastery of Agios Symeon, Agi i Anargyri in
Agia Marina of
Kamares and on the road to Apollonia, the Monastery of Panagia to
Toso Nero, the Monastery of Taxiarches (the Taxiarchis) in
Vathi,
the church of Panagia of Kitriani or Cypriani on the island of
Kitriani outside Platis Gialos which dates from the late 10th-11th
century etc.
The
Monastery of Vryssiani,
which has been built in the 17th century, lodges the
Museum of Ecclesiastic Art
and among its exhibited articles there are old
publications’ issues, one Gospel of 1796,
reliquaries, cherubims, sacred ware, vestments, icons etc.
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