Monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, Mounde

The Holy Monastery of the Annunciation of the Theotokos at Mounde (or Monde) is in Raches, near the village of Kastanies, in a lush setting with running water. It was built around 1460, according to tradition, after a vision of a devout Ikarian who found an icon of the Annunciation on the site. Two chapels were later added, dedicated to the Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles and to the Dormition of the Theotokos, giving the church a three-aisled basilica plan. The monastery’s name is attributed either to a family from Chios who funded its restoration or to the Italian il Monte, due to its mountain location. Inside are noteworthy frescoes and a carved wooden iconostasis; during the Civil War (1947–1949) it served as a sanatorium for political exiles, some of whose remains are kept in the courtyard. Today the monastery, home to one nun, celebrates on 25 March, 30 June, and 15 August and attracts many visitors.