Agios (Saint) Georgios Valsamitis
This Monastery is located 3 km away from Chora , on the way to Kato Meria. According to tradition, in the 8th century, the icon of Saint George was found in the place and the locals built a temple there. Valsamos or horse mint (mentha longifolia) grows in the area, and the honoured Saint was named after the plant. According to tradition, during the Byzantine era the monastery was female and self-administered, until it converted to a Monastery dependency of Panagia Chozoviotissa. The last nun who lived at Agios Georgios Valsamitis passed away in the 18th century.
Since 2011, however, with the blessings of Reverend Metropolitan bishop of Thera, Amorgos and Islands Epiphanios, a nun has been living in this little Monastery, struggling to deacon the pious pilgrims with the aid of many of the devout inhabitants of the island.
The initial origin of Agios Georgios Valsamitis is probably a Paleochristian Basilica. However, the Holy Water spring and the little cistern that brings it into the Temple, the oral tradition, some written sources and the surrounding territory of Varsamitis provide us with the indication that at the very spot there has pre-existed an ancient water oracle.
St. George can be visited daily from 8:00 – 13:00 and from 17:00 – 19:00.
