Overview

It is located a few meters east of the monastery of Agios Ioannis Lampadistis. It was built by the monks of the monastery as an ascetic or hermitage in the 12th century. In front of the chapel grew a huge holly(commonly known as a periwinkle) that protected it from profane and hostile eyes, which is why it is called Theoskepasti. There are various traditions for the protection of this tree, namely that something bad will happen to anyone who dares to cut even a branch. The tree is 700 years old and is under the care of the Forestry Department. The processional icon of the Panagia Theoskepasti is kept in the Latin chapel or as it is called today, the 'Akathist Hymn', which is built into the church of Saints Heraclidios and John the Lampadistis. It is an exquisite (14th century) copy of the icon of the Panagia of Kykkos, which depicts the Panagia Deksiokratousa. Other masterpieces from the same chapel are kept in the iconostasis of the village.