Panagia Myrtidiotissa

Virgin Mary Myrtidiotissa, the patroness of Kythira!

The Monastery is located west of Kythira and is built near the sea in a pine-covered area. It is the spiritual center of Kythira and its temple is dedicated to Panagia Myrtidiotissa who you consider the patroness of Kythira. The icon was found by a shepherd in the 13th century in the area of Myrtidia, which was named after the many myrtle trees in the area. In the place where the image was found, the poor shepherd built a small church and devoted the rest of his life to its care. After the death of the pious shepherd, the care of the small church of Myrtidiotissa was taken over by the monk Leontios who, with the financial help of the Kytherians, slightly enlarged the original church and built around it some cells for the accommodation of the pilgrims. But the number of pilgrims from different places created the need for a bigger temple and thus the construction of the present temple began.

The Monastery is located west of Kythira and is built near the sea in a pine-covered area. It is the spiritual center of Kythira and its temple is dedicated to Panagia Myrtidiotissa who you consider the patroness of Kythira. The icon was found by a shepherd in the 13th century in the area of Myrtidia, which was named after the many myrtle trees in the area. In the place where the image was found, the poor shepherd built a small church and devoted the rest of his life to its care. After the death of the pious shepherd, the care of the small church of Myrtidiotissa was taken over by the monk Leontios who, with the financial help of the Kytherians, slightly enlarged the original church and built around it some cells for the accommodation of the pilgrims. But the multitude of pilgrims from different places created the need for a bigger temple and thus the construction of the present temple began.