Monastery of Preveli

The impressive ruins of the monastery of Kato Preveli lie below the road in the oleander valley of the Megalopotamos, which has water all year round. The monastery was founded in the 17th century, but has been uninhabited since its destruction by the Ottomans in the mid-19th century.

In the monastery church of the intact Piso Preveli Monastery, consecrated in 1836, an icon on the iconostasis (i.e. on the picture wall separating the church from the chancel) is particularly worth seeing. In the monastery museum there are numerous other icons of greater artistic value, especially from the 17th and 18th centuries.

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The icon at the iconostasis shows the story of the creation of man. Even if icons don't usually interest you, it will give you pleasure: On the upper left, God breathes into Adam; on the upper right, he cuts Eve from Adam's rib. On the bottom left, Adam and Eve stand naked at the Tree of Knowledge, on the bottom right they are chased out of paradise by an angel - now shamefacedly clothed. The small animal depictions are amusing, including a unicorn, a lion and a peacock.

In the monastery courtyard, a monument commemorates the monastery's support for the British army. Some of the monastery buildings have fallen into disrepair, others have been restored or even rebuilt.

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