Holy Church of the Archangels (Taxiarchon)

For my respect, I wasn't take a few pictures. Story of church better than church absolutely! Recommended.

A beautiful monastery with an amazing history. If you are not familiar with the monastery, I recommend learning the history before or during your visit. This used to be a favorite place for prayer and contemplation. Now it feels more like a theme park. Tour buses line the parking area and crowds of people line up for photos and selfies. The last two times we visited, the sacred feeling of the church had diminished for both of us. Tragic. The staff is busily occupied with selling candles, extinguishing them and making room for more. Your prayer candle is not allowed to burn for more than a few minutes! All that aside, it is still a beautiful sanctuary. There is a large café serving snacks and beverages. There is a WC which was fairly dirty when we visited. Free entry but now there is usually a line to visit the holy icon no matter what time of year you visit.

Located in the northeastern village of Mantamados, the Holy Monastery of Taxiarchis is one of the most sacred sites of Lesvos and an absolute must-see. Dating back to the Byzantine period, the monastery is renowned for its unique relief icon of Archangel Michael, which, according to tradition, was molded by a young monk from the blood of the martyred brethren and clay after a Saracen raid. The present three-aisled basilica was built in the 19th century and today welcomes tens of thousands of pilgrims during the feast days of Taxiarchis, the protector of Lesvos. With its architectural grandeur as well as its profound historical and spiritual significance, it is a place not to be missed by anyone seeking a cultural and religious experience on the island.

Don’t ever go to leaves without visiting the beautiful magic monastery of mandamados. A magnificent village with a monastery that has the sepulture of a saint underneath. Got to pray and light a candle . And afterwards why not step in the cafe of the beautiful cafe to eat the unforgettable loukoumades.. mmmm

Worth the long drive from Mytilene Port for spiritual enlightenment. The surrounding grounds are shaded, for rest and refreshments.

Would recommend to go on a sunday! Locals pay a visit on sunday and it is wonderful too see that. Nice surrounding areas where you can enjoy a drink and small meal. It is a bit busy but worth the wait.

Monastery of Archangel Michael in Mantamados, Lesvos (Midilli), Greece The Monastery of Archangel Michael (also known as Taxiarches Monastery) is one of the most important religious sites on the island of Lesvos. It is located in the village of Mantamados, in the northeastern part of the island. The monastery is famous for its relief icon of Archangel Michael, which, according to legend, was made from a mixture of soil and the blood of slaughtered monks. The story goes that in the late 10th century, Saracen pirates attacked the monastery and killed all the monks except one. That monk witnessed a miraculous appearance of Archangel Michael, who drove the pirates away. In memory of the miracle, the monk created the icon using the blood-soaked earth. The current building was constructed in 1879 and is a three-aisled basilica. The monastery hosts a major religious and cultural festival every year in November, attracting many visitors. Mantamados village is also known for its traditional ceramics and dairy products, and nearby you can find St. Basil’s Church, dating back to 1750.

Aside from having a personal/religious connection as an aviator, being baptized in the church and home to my family. It’s one of the most beautiful religious sites you can visit. Home to 1 of 4 miraculous icons of Saint Michael that dates 9th century. Towering in the middle of the garden stands one of the most famous hellenic air forces fighter pilot’s with his actual recovered aircraft on display. The interior of the church is showered with centuries of generational offerings such as gold shoes that date back to the 1700’s. The historical and religious stories it has to share will leave you feeling truly connected with your visit to the monastery. Unfortunately monks do not reside on the site anymore but the church alone will impact you spiritually wether you practice Greek Orthodox or not. Shared some old photos from 2011

Small monastery, you can only visit the church. I really liked the cafe in the garden. There are public toilets and free parking

This is a very beautiful small monastery. The yard and church inside the walls are beautifully kept. We came here at midday on a Wednesday in the end of August, and the place was not overrun. The high-light for me was the spectacular icon of Archangel Michael, just by the entrance. And the loukoumades, honey balls, from the kafeneio outside are a must.