Saint Porfyrios Monastery Tour

Saint Porfyrios (Bairaktaris) the Kafsokalyvite (Greek: Όσιος Πορφύριος ο Καυσοκαλυβίτης) was a Greek Athonite hieromonk and Eastern Orthodox Saint known for his gifts of spiritual discernment.

St. Porfyrios was born on February 7, 1906, in the village of Agios Ioannis, which translates to St. John Karystias, in the province of Evia in Greece. His parents, Leonidas and Eleni Bairaktaris, baptized him as Evangelos, and he was the fourth out of five siblings. 

Through his role as a spiritual father, Elder Porfyrios became known to an ever-wider circle of Orthodox followers. His sainthood was declared by the synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on November 27, 2013. In 2014, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decreed that St. Porphyrios’ name be added to their church calendar and commemorated on December 2.

While he served many ill and dying, he himself was not spared a similar fate.  He was wracked with pain from an incessant stomach ailment. Seeking the solitude of the forest, Porphyrios harbored a life-long dream to found a female convent near Mount Penteli in the northeast suburbs of Athens. He tried for many years to establish such a community there, but it was not to be. 

Instead at the end of his life, he accumulated enough funding to purchase lands in Malakassa on the slopes of Mt Oropos. What started out as a humble trailer transformed into the towering oasis that one witnesses today.

The Convent of Holy Transfiguration of Christ is a site of spiritual refuge, best visited during the week during its Vesper service at 6 pm, away from the weekend flocks.

Evia Private Tours organises spiritual tours to Saint Porfyrios Monastery (the Convent of Holy Transfiguration of Christ) in Milesi as well as visits in Agios Ioannis, Saint’s birthplace and private access to Elder Porfyrios private house in the village (upon availability and approval by the current owner).

Type: Spiritual Tour

Suitability: Singles, Couples, Families, Groups

Location: Evia & Attica

Duration: Full day trip (8-10 hours depending on your initial location)

Length: app 300 km (190 miles) roundtrip (starting from your hotel in Athens)

Sights: Holy Convent “Transfiguration of the Savior” founded by Saint Porphyrios (Milesi), Agios Ioannis (Aliveri) at Saint Porfyrios birthplace and private access to his house (upon availability and approval by the current owner)

Availability: Upon Request

Please read carefully our Terms & Conditions before booking.

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