Early Christian Catacombs in Milos - The Monastery of Ηozoviotissa in Amorgos Posted: July 23, 2018 | Categories: Current Affairs | Author: converge converge
Two famous Cyclades islands, selected by thousands of travelers each year for their summer holidays, hide two unique religious treasures. Milos with the catacombs, unique throughout Greece and third worldwide in size and importance, following the labyrinthine catacombs of Rome and those of the Holy Land, and Amorgos with the Monastery of Ηοzoviotissa, with the foundation of the initial building throughout the centuries and the attachments later on dated to the 9th century A.D., are two spots of great cultural, historical and religious interest.
In Milos, the catacombs were the first big community cemetery during the early Christian years while they also functioned as a place of worship, which is verified by a piece of rock that served as an altar. In the original complex of galleries were carved three tunnels linked to smaller ones. The walls had colored decorations where the red and dark blue colors were dominant. Very few surviving items exist from the decoration, except perhaps some inscriptions with Christian names, while only one two-story tomb is preserved in the Catacombs.
The Monastery of Hozoviotissa in Amorgos is closely linked to the "arrival" of the icon of Virgin Mary on the island from Hozovo, Palestine, probably as a result of the brutal and fierce persecutions of the Christians in the 8th and 9th century. The icon refers to the oral religious tradition that it miraculously reached the small bay of Saint Anna from the sea. The Monastery was built in 1088, while about two hundred years later it expanded and underwent significant changes with evident Venetian architecture without losing its power and glory, even during the years of the Turkish occupation. Today, the white building with its small light openings can be seen shining from kilometers away, embracing warmly the gaze and rejoicing the soul. A religious monument to which people of any religion and from every part of the planet bow.
In Milos, the catacombs were the first big community cemetery during the early Christian years while they also functioned as a place of worship, which is verified by a piece of rock that served as an altar. In the original complex of galleries were carved three tunnels linked to smaller ones. The walls had colored decorations where the red and dark blue colors were dominant. Very few surviving items exist from the decoration, except perhaps some inscriptions with Christian names, while only one two-story tomb is preserved in the Catacombs.
The Monastery of Hozoviotissa in Amorgos is closely linked to the "arrival" of the icon of Virgin Mary on the island from Hozovo, Palestine, probably as a result of the brutal and fierce persecutions of the Christians in the 8th and 9th century. The icon refers to the oral religious tradition that it miraculously reached the small bay of Saint Anna from the sea. The Monastery was built in 1088, while about two hundred years later it expanded and underwent significant changes with evident Venetian architecture without losing its power and glory, even during the years of the Turkish occupation. Today, the white building with its small light openings can be seen shining from kilometers away, embracing warmly the gaze and rejoicing the soul. A religious monument to which people of any religion and from every part of the planet bow.
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