|
Rhodes Island - Filerimos |
Introduction
Filerimos hill - mountain in ialyssos
rhodos Greece
From Trianta ( ialyssos ) 7 km from
rhodos city, it's a short but scenic drive to the hilltop
monastery of Filerimos ,built by the Byzantines in the 5th
century AD on the ruins of ancient Ialyssos .
In front of
the steps leading up to the monastery (open Tues-Fri
08.00-20.00 Sat-Mon 08.30 -15.oo; dress modestly ) are the
remains of a Greek temple, the cross- shaped baptistery of
the first Christian basilica and the tiny underground chapel
of St George, with, faded 15 th- century wall paintings .
Roman Catholic as well as Greek Orthodox Christians
worshipped the icon of the Virgin of Filerimos ,in the
hexagonal Church of the Knights ,though at separate altars.
To the rear of the monastery are the impressive remains of
the Byzantine garrison .
In 1876 excavations have
brought to light Mycenaean pottery, a Doric foundation and a
Hellenistic temple of Athena Polias proof of the prosperity
of the city down to the time when Rhodes city was founded in
408 BC. In the middle age the Knights of St. John used the
site of Ialisos. Later it passed to the Turks and finally to
the Italians.
Remnants of these periods and lot of
the successive conquerors can still be seen. On the way up
the ancient road to the Acropolis, you see the m see the
foundations of the temple of Zeus and Athena. On top you'll
find the beautiful church, dedicated to our Lady. This
Monastery was destroyed under, the Turks and rebuilt by the
Italians who installed Capuchin monks in it. They built
lovely walkways and quit corridors. The monks made a quite
excellent cocktail which you still enjoy today.
|
|
