Holy Monastery of Agios Nikolaos in Tsirilovo
On a spur of Mount Askio, just above Korisos, the Holy Monastery of Agios Nikolaos stands surrounded by lush greenery, where natural beauty meets centuries of history and memory. Built at an altitude of around 1,000 metres, among pine and oak forests, the monastery will enchant you with its panoramic views over the verdant landscape and captivate you with its history.
Believed to have been founded in the 17th century, the monastery reached its greatest flourishing in the 19th century, when it became an important religious and cultural centre. Under the guidance of Abbot Gregorios Diamantidis, it served not only as a place of prayer, but also as a centre of charity, operating an orphanage and a school. During the Macedonian Struggle, it provided refuge to many fighters, including Pavlos Melas, a role that later brought destruction upon it. On 26 February 1905, Bulgarian komitadji forces looted and burned the monastery, marking the beginning of a long period of decline during which it operated as a metochion of the nearby Monastery of Agioi Anargyroi.
The revival of the monastery began in 1963, through the initiative of Archimandrite Sebastianos Stefanopoulos, who restored the buildings and breathed new life into the monastic community. During this period, a new wing was added, the chapel of Agios Antonios was built, and the new katholikon was erected following the architectural form of a three-aisled basilica. Today, the monastery continues its spiritual tradition as a women’s monastic community, preserving valuable sacred treasures, including a fragment of the relics of Saint Nicholas and an icon of the saint believed to be miraculous. The old guesthouse also remains standing, serving as a living reminder of the monastery’s long history.
