Monastery of the Annunciation, Lefkada

The Holy Monastery of the Annunciation of the Theotokos stands at Lefkada, near the village of Xylosyrtis and a few kilometers outside Agios Kirykos. It was built in 1775 by two monks of Mount Athos, Niphon and Saint Makarios Notaras, who sought refuge on Ikaria because of pirate raids. The monastery functioned for years as a coenobium with 25 monks, but piracy led the brotherhood to abandon the site and move to Skiathos. In 1955 it became a convent and hosts nuns to this day. Inside, the carved wooden iconostasis with scenes from the Old and New Testaments stands out; also preserved are the chapel of Saint Makarios with mosaic icons, the ossuary beneath the church floor, and the ruins of auxiliary buildings. The grounds also include watermills and an olive press, testifying to the monks’ daily life. The monastery celebrates on 25 March and is a major pilgrimage site on Ikaria.