Byzantine Monastery of Hosios Loukas
The Monastery of Hosios Loukas is built at the foot of Mount Parnassos, at west slopes of Mount Helicon, under the acropolis of the ancient Steiris, to which it owns the name Hosios Loukas the Steiriotis.
On your way up to the slopes of Mount Parnassos and the archaeological site of Delphi, about 13 km before the town of Arachova, leave the main road and turn towards the village of Distomο and Styri. Keep driving for about 9 km and the road will bring you to the monastery of Hosios Loukas.
It is an architecture jewel of the Byzantine art from the 11th century, which is included since 1990 into the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
The two big churches, Panagia and Katholikos, as well as every building in the monastery settlement, inspire awe and astonishment to the worshipers, and at the same time they are items of architecture study for the specialists.
In every corner of the church there are pieces of the Greek history, from the Frankokratia up to World War II. The scars left by the conquerors were gradually restored and were completed in 1989.
The Holy remains of Hosios Loukas, which were moved to the Vatican by the Crusaders in the 13th century, were finally found in Venice and on the 13th of December 1986 they were returned to the reliquary of Katholikos.
Telephone: (+30) 22670 22228, 22670 21305
