Holy Monastery of Saint George Mandila

In the rocky depression, opposite Panagia Doupiani, east of Kastraki and accessible only by skilled climbers, is the Holy Monastery of St. George Mandilas.

According to an old custom, on the day of the feast of the Saint and at the end of the service, the young people of the village hang colourful scarves and light candles in the monastery. The handkerchiefs stay until the next feast of the Saint and are considered wishes for health.

The establishment of the Holy Monastery of Saint George Mandila is placed in the 14th century according to the few data we have, which belong to tradition, because the monastery has not been scientifically studied until today. According to tradition, at the foot of the rock where the monastery of St. George is built, during the years of the Turkish occupation, a dense forest was spreading. In this forest it was forbidden to cut down trees, which was also the case for the conquerors.

But a soldier of the Turkish garrison of Kastraki, one day while he was cutting down a tree, fell down unconscious, as if dead. The Turkish commander of the village, thinking that a “giaouris” had killed him, ordered everyone to gather in the square. He threatened harsh reprisals if they did not hand over the murderer of his soldier. At that moment a loud voice was heard from the monastery, saying that no one had killed the soldier, but that St. George had punished him. It would have been all right, however, if the Turks had offered something to the saint. And immediately the wife of the agha gave the handkerchief of her fezzes.

Then a Castrakinos brought the scarf up to the monastery and as soon as the abbot hung it on the icon of the saint, the Turk stood up strong and strong. From then on, it became common to hang new handkerchiefs in the monastery every year.