Many are the churches and the monasteries, of great religious and historical value all over the island. From the impressive cathedral in the city center, and the byzantine churches of the medieval town, which due to great historical value, operate as museums, to the peaceful monasteries in the Villages.
Just to mention a few of them:
of the Virgin Mary, is situated in the area of Mandraki. It was built in 1925 by the Italians and its architecture brings together Gothic and Romanesque elements. The church’s interior is decorated with Neo – byzantine frescoes painted by renowned hagiographer Fotis Kontoglou.
“Eisodia” for the locals was built in the year 1750 and the exquisite temple art and pulpit, built in the year 1842.
one of the oldest and few byzantine churches in the medieval city, still operating today, is celebrated with great reverence and solemnity. Located at the namesake street… in the Medieval Town of Rhodes, the church was built in the 13th century A.D. Its cross shaped and the interior is adorned with wonderful frescos. It officiated as a mesgit (small mosque) during the ottoman occupation. There is no known testimony for its name before the ottoman period. The interior was preserved in the 20’s by the Italian Archaeological Service and after the World War II, it was taken over by the Greeks, at which n 1946, it was inaugurated and dedicated to Agios Fanourios.
The worship of Agios Fanourios seems to have started from Rhodes, expanding next to Crete and then to the rest of the country. Different sources cite that, while workers were digging outside the southern walls to collect building materials, they uncovered the ruins of a church. Among other things, an icon was found depicting Agios Fanourios wearing a military uniform and surrounded by scenes of his martyrdom. Obviously that icon was part of a fresco. Agios Fanourios’ first miracle was the liberation of three Cretan priests from pirates, while transferring a copy of the archetypal icon to Crete.
Christians show their great respect for Agios Fanourios by baking a traditional pie dedicated to him, the “Fanouropita”. The pie is usually round and small in size, made of flour, sugar, cinnamon and oil, sweet red wine and orange juice. All ingredients are mixed together and placed in a round girdle, baked at medium temperature. With the pie, Christians ask Agios Fanourios for his help in recovering a lost object, a lost case, health problems etc.
According to tradition, Agios Fanourios’ mother was a sinner. She was cruel to poor people and that is the reason, according to the myth, she went to hell. Her son tried to save her but she was too evil. Worshipers bake these pies and ask God to forgive her. After the pie is blessed, it is shared around the neighborhood. Agios Fanourios church celebrates on August 27th.
Monastery of the Lady Filerimos is located on a hill above Ialyssos, about 10 km from Rhodes Town, close to the site of Ancient Ialyssos. It was built by the… Knights of Saint John in the medieval times and was reconstructed in the early 20th c. The monastery is dedicated to Virgin Mary the Life-Giving Source (Zoodochos Pighi) and its architecture is much different than the usual monasteries in Greece. Its Gothic style stone construction, was built on top of the site of an older Byzantine monastery.
At the citadel of Filerimos, stands the Church of the Lady Filerimos, built by the Knights of the Order of St. John, as well as many religious monuments of ancient, Byzantine and Knights’ period.
located next to one of the cleanest and richest natural water sources of the island named Fountoukli, has maintained tetra conch church with frescoes,… from the 15th century. The village Asclepeion hosts the Byzantine church of the Assumption, which has the only murals on the island, known to date, picturing the Revelation of John the Divine.
The church and the religious and folk art museum are worth a visit.
The Monastery of Panagia Tsambika
Is one of the most famous on the island, standing on a hill above Tsambika beach, located about 25 km south of Rhodes Town, between Kolymbia… and Archangelos. Its icon is considered miracle-working, with hundreds of worshipers flocking to pay their respects and pray for a miracle. The new monastery, which operates today, is found on the road connecting Archangelos to Rhodes Town.
Church of Agios Panteleimon (Saint Panteleimon)
The Church of Saint Panteleimon is located on the northeast end of the Medieval Town, near Agia Ekaterini’s Gate. It was built after the first… siege from the Ottomans, on July 27th (day of the churches’ celebration) in 1480 A.D. It seems that this church was not turned into a mosque during the ottoman period.
According to Allert Gabriel’s narrations, who visited the island of Rhodes in 1923, the church was being used as a residence by Jewish families. Unknown exactly when, the Italians repaired the building and used it as a customs office. At which later on, the British used it as a police station. Following the World War II it us used as a shelter for refugees.
During one of his visits, the Metropolitan bishop of Rhodes realized that the shelter was actually an old temple. In cooperation with the Archaeological Service, he started the restoration of the church, which was consecrated on April 25th 1948, officiating to this day.
Virgin Mary of the Castle is located on Museum square, also known as Alexander the Great Square. It was built in the 11th c. and is the oldest and biggest… temple that can be found today within the walls of the Medieval Town. In its original form, it belonged to the archaeological type of cruciform registered temple with a dome, which was then modified into a three – aisled basilica with gothic crossed arches in the middle aisle during the knightly period. The temple was used differently, through the passage of time. Originally it was an Orthodox metropolis dedicated to Virgin Mary, then, during the knightly period, was established as a Catholic metropolis, under the name Sancta Maria Castelli Rodi. The ottomans transformed it into a mosque known as Enderum mosque or Kantouri and finally today, it operates as a byzantine museum under the Archaeological Service’s supervision.
Agia Triada – Holy Trinity in the Jewish district can be found in Leontos Rodiou Square.
It is a crucifix byzantine formed temple with a dome and… frescoes, dated from the 15th – 16th c., on the west side.
It was given the name Dolapli after its conversion to a mosque.
is located on your way to Archipolis village, as you drive inland from Kolymbia.
In the place where the monastery stands today, a small chapel… of gratitude to Saint Nektarios in 1966, was built by Kyriakos Kostomiris and his wife Despina, who believed that he miraculously treated their son, Tsampikos, suffering from poliomyelitis.
The church of Holy Cross it is on the village of Apollona, in the center of the island of Rhodes. The Church of the Holy Cross… is located in the center of the village at 334 meters and it is written that it was rebuilt in 1858 as mentioned in an inscription that survives with the name of the owner. The temple of the Holy Cross must have been built in the period of chivalry as travelers mention in their books. In the church there is an icon of the Virgin Mary with the coat of arms of Pierre d’Aubusson Grand Master of Rhodes 1423 – 3 July 1503. Architecturally, the church is one-room with five cruciform vaults and Chivalry elements. The wood-carved iconostasis retains its natural color and was built in the period 1858 – 1863. The pebbles for the mosaic in the courtyard are from the Haraki area. The bell tower was completed in 1892. Celebration Day: Septeber 14
was built in 1756, according to the date of the inscription next to the northern entrance.
is located in Ixia, 4.5 km away from the City of Rhodes.
is an Orthodox church built in honour of the Saint in the village of Siana near Rhodes.
This small stone church was originally built sometime in the 5th century AD, on the foundations of an early Christian Basilica. Parts of the foundations are still visible today.
at the village of Asklipio in Rhodes was built on a free–cross plan in the 15th–16th centuries
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