Monasteries
EPISKOPI of MASTRO
Basilica dating from the mid-7th century to the 9th century. Inside the church are preserved frescoes as well as small parts of the mosaic floor. The name, size of the church and the position of advocate here that the seat of the bishop was Acheloos.
SAINT NICHOLAS The KREMASTOS
In sharp southwest side of Arakynthos - to the lagoon Aitolikou- there are many steep caves, which have not yet been investigated. One of them, St Nicholas Hinged of great interest, because it seems to have been the most important center of the ascetic medieval area. It Illustrated Cave which served as a hermitage and church and historically associated with the cavernous asceticism of the 9th-12th century in Aetolia and Acarnania. The paintings of high art "Cappadocian" style.
SAINT GEORGE VILLAGE SAINT GEORGE
The church of St. George is one of the most interesting monuments of the region, because the basilica that takes us from early to mid-Byzantine period and from the Middle Byzantine era of Epirus and from there to the Ottoman area. Today it is a cemetery church of the village of Agios Georgios.
TWO CHURCHES STAMNAS
Two churches gave the name to this location near the village Stamna. These are two temples -the largest one - dating back to the 10th century AD
One of the most important post-Byzantine monuments in the region is the temple of Charm Archangels.
TAXIARCHES GOURIAS
Southeast of Charm, a short distance from the village, the monastery of the Archangels saved. In the walled center of the courtyard, there is a small Catholic church. The temple is Hagiographies with two layers of frescoes. The first was probably in the 16th century by great painter. Later, in the late 18th century the church xanazografistike from insignificant painter blanketing the oldest frescoes. In many places not survived either the newest or oldest layer. Although the monastery was dissolved after the revolution, for one hundred years yet still had life and action.
SAINT ELEOUSA
On the west side of the imposing canyon Kleisoura, 150 meters built in a recess of the rock, the church of Agia Eleousa. Around the church in which there is a fountain built male monastery .Giortazei the following Friday after Easter.
FOINIKIOTISSA
A small chapel with a clump to accompany, on a small island that surround the shallow waters of the salt lake. It is said that this point chose to ride the poet Lord Byron and philhellene time lived in Missolonghi. You see it in the middle of the distance to the promenade that connects Mesologi Etoliko.
VIRGIN PANAXIOTISSA GAFROLIMNI
North from Gavrolimni village in a green area preserved the church of the Assumption named Panaxiotissa Mary. Dated property that is the end of 10ai.kai must be built on the ruins of an early Christian basilica. Impresses the dome of which is a real masterpiece.
VIRGIN VLOCHAITISSA
The monastery of the Assumption Vlochos beneath the citadel of Thestieon in the municipality Thestieon New. Established early 13th ALT 1834 the monastery like other monasteries Otto dialythikan.I decree deserted monastery and the relics left the Gospel, the chalice, the reliquary and the seal with the inscription "this circumstance the House IS MARY FROM THE MONASTERY Vlochos ". The monastery today deacons by a monk.
MONASTERY OF SAINT COSMAS Aitolos
Our Holy One was the reformer of our country, rescued the identity of our Nation, was a modern Father of the Church, offered ideals and values in the family, in society. Educational and missionary work was great and the offer of the enslaved race even high-volume. The martyr's blood watered the tree of Liberty and Orthodoxy. He is our Protector.
The MONASTERY AND HOLY BAPTIST BAPTIST
The Monastery of St. John the Baptist and the Baptist in Ascension Thermo, one of the oldest and richest monasteries of Aitoloakarnania. Pnefmatofora source of Orthodox Greeks during the Ottoman domination and today. The Monastery offered under Turkish rule many services in the Greek Nation and Christians. Hosted kleftarmatolous. Georgios Karaiskakis who was for a long time in Dervekista often go to the monastery for veneration. To this came the survivors Exodites beleaguered Messolonghi and hosted, as they stayed there.
MONASTERY OF SAN SIMEON MESSOLONGIOU
Historical Monastery of St. Simeon Mesolonghi holy place and refuge of Armatolon Libra. Here each Christian gets spiritual nourishment and spiritual renewal. It is a place loaded with memories Historical and Spiritual Games. Our Mesolongitis national poet Kostis Palamas like other poets and writers praised this historic "castle" of our Greek Orthodox Church, which became famous after the sublime sacrifice 'night of Turmoil ", the night of the Heroic Exodus of Messolonghi.
MONASTERY ZOODOCHOU SOURCE, ELEOUSA - KLEISOURAS.
In the rugged gorge Kleisoura our monastery remind Meteors Monastery, as are nailed on top of the mountain Arakynthos. It is a center and reference point of the Religious Life of our county. Hosted here, with the passage from the region, the Ethnapostolos Agios Kosmas of Aetolia who prophetically said, "the place that would one day become a great pilgrimage." Also hosted the poet Kostas Krystallis.
In 1956 he visited the Monastery Queen Frederica which worships the Miraculous Picture of Our Lady and helps promote the consolidation of the region.
In 1973 the whole area belonging to the monastery was declared a Historical and protected by the state and all the Authorities.
MONASTERY ASSUMPTION OF MARY "MARY PANAXIOTISSA"
Situated in Gafrolimni for centuries and preserved in good condition until today. Many say the "Panaxiotissa 'name is unique in the Orthodox Church and mean the Virgin who" claimed everything. " The church is built on the ruins of an early Christian basilica. This Catholic Byzantine Monastery of the 10th century AD
THE CAVE OF SAINT NICHOLAS WITH Egkleistro.
Today we know that from the 9th to the 12th century AD, the Cappadocian painters traveled from the East to Italy preferring the terrestrial road Corinth - Patras Gulf and some of them stayed long enough, founding ascetic state, in order to draw figures of saints in caves Varasova.
On the east side we see "perched" on the rock large and impressive cave of St. Nicholas with archeological interest. It is a monastic fortress-like complex, which for 10 centuries hermit large number of monks, sacred place and historian. Northwest of the cave there is a niche - opening at a height of ten meters and a width of six meters another and wooden staircase leading to the upper cave, the Engleistra. The Engleistra makes the cave unique in Greece. In this isolated area rose for several days and perhaps months, the hermit - monk for more prayer.
MONASTERY ASSUMPTION MARY AMPELAKIOTISSAS
The historic monastery of Ampelakiotissas situated at an altitude of 850 meters around the hill of Roumvis surrounded by the tallest mountains of the Saint Elias of Ardinis and ax. The monastery has been for centuries a beacon of Orthodox Christians.
The blessed tree found in the image, there is today, the branches of which obscures the Holy Step Temple.
1955 giortasthikan with celebrations of 500 years since the founding of the monastery.
MONASTERY ASSUMPTION OF MARY LIGOVITSIOU
Located at the foot of Mount Ligovitsi, eight kilometers from the village plantations, there stands the historic monastery of Panagia Ligovitsianas.
In this monastery Karaiskakis with his warriors they took refuge fleeing from Etoliko. Great battle was in 1825 where the Turks burned the monastery and destroyed all the treasures of those who survived Monks later rebuilt the monastery. At the site of the monastery posted by Alexander Mavrokordatos on August 4, 1824, the first notice inviting the people of Aitoloakarnania to rise up, so the Turks in 1825 the burned and looted grabbing all his assets.
GENESIS MONASTERY OF MARY
The monastery is located on a hill of Makrynorous in the province of the Swamp. Moni Retha is the most famous monastery in the area, the holiest shrine of the Swamp is the "Lady of the Swamp". It has great historical and spiritual offering, despite the signs of time, and still today impresses visitors - pilgrims.
The monastery for centuries was the spiritual lighthouse and guardian during difficult times for our country thanks to the superhuman efforts and the help of Our Lady and all the Priors who served.
The old period the monastery area was used for people with mental illnesses. People in our area say that at times there are many miracles that have been made in the convent. Today we find in the Temple entrance bridge that were used for fixation of the mentally ill.
MONASTERY OF VIRGIN EISODION MYRTIAS
It is built on a magnificent location and each pilgrim feels that is more "close" to the Virgin of. Inscription of 1491 commemorating writes, "Blessed Virgin Misses us and Virgin Mary Faneromeni". Since 1634 it is known as the monastery of Myrtle and Mary as "the hope of the hopeless." In the historical course he had joined his fortunes with the monasteries of Haryana and scholars clergy Apokourou.