The Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of Profitis Ilias is situated on the top of the mountain “Profitis Ilias”. It is 567m high and it has a wonderful view of the island of Santorini. It is also 3kms away from Pirgos of Thira.

It was founded in 1711 by the brothers Gavriil and Ioakim who were priest – monks and chaplains in their birthplace. They withdrew and built the Monastery, using their family holdings. When the Monastery was built, it was legislated that it was inaccessible for women. Up to 1880, there were 10 to 20 monks there. Then, its influence gradually decreased and today there are 5 monks there.

During its 300 years of existence, its educational, social and national influence was great.Its action was special as it contributed to the development of the local society through the refinement of letters, its participation in national matters and also through its philanthropic work. Some of the charitable works of the Monastery are: the Greek Sholi (School) Martinus (1806 – 1845), the founding of the Greek Orthodox School of Thira in 1831, the aid to the hieratic School of Siros of the Greek University and the Public Library, the scholarships at Rizarios Sholi, the care of the paupers and the sufferers, the operation of the Leper Hospital of Thira (1839), the care of the earthquake-stricken of 1956, the village Kamari that was built on Monastery tracks and the moral and materialistic contribution to the Greek war of Independence in 1821.

In the Monastery, you can find the holy relics of a lot of Saints: Georgios, Dimitrios, Arsenios from Paros, Minas, Panteleimon, Grigorios Theologos, Marina and Ioannis Chrisostomos. There is also the finger of Megas Vasilios, lumps of the blood of the toddlers who were slaughtered by Herodes etc.

Αpiece of the Cross and a part of the reed that Christ was holding are put in a special place in the Monastery. There is also the tiara of the Patriarch Saint Grigorios the fifth.

The miraculous icon of Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elias) is taken out of its usual place at times of draught, in order for Profitis Ilias to send rain to the arid but beautiful island of Santorini.

Pirgos Kallistis, post office box: 208484700, Thira, Santorini

Telephone number: (+30)2286031210