Panormitis: The Historic Monastery of Symi with the Baroque Bell Tower

One of the largest pilgrimages in the Dodecanese is undoubtedly the Archangel Michael of Panormitis on Symi. The Holy Monastery is located at the head of a bay, Panormos, from which it takes its name. Undoubtedly, the eyes of the pilgrims are drawn to the imposing bell tower (1911) of the monastery, built in the baroque style, and unlike any other in our country. Equally impressive is the cobbled courtyard with beautiful geometric patterns. According to reports, the bell tower resembles that of the Zagorsk Monastery near Moscow. Its origins remain unknown, but there is written evidence of the monastery’s existence dating back to the 15th century. The main entrance, built in Venetian style, is located on the Panormitis beach. Inside the monastery’s courtyard lies the church dedicated to the Archangel Taxarch Michael. It is a single-aisle basilica, and its interior is covered with frescoes, many of which were painted by the local iconographer Neophytos. To the right of the church stands the iconostasis with the silver-plated icon of Archangel Michael, considered the patron saint of the island and protector of sailors in the Dodecanese. The icon, two meters tall, depicts the Saint adorned with silver leaves. An inscription on the icon indicates it was crafted in 1724 by the artist Ioannis from the Peloponnese, and legend has it that the icon miraculously appeared, disappeared, and reappeared in the same place. Additionally, the monastery houses two museums. The first showcases a rich collection of ecclesiastical art, including vestments, liturgical objects, silver icons, and Russian epitaphs, while the second exhibits samples of local folklore related to fishing, agriculture, and animal husbandry. There is also a library with Byzantine manuscripts and editions on ecclesiastical, historical, and philological content, as well as a collection of paintings depicting the area, the monastery, and its chapels. A monument honors a former abbot, two monks, and two professors executed in 1944 for illegal radio contact with British officers. The distance from the island’s main settlement is approximately six hours on foot or one hour by public transport. Thousands of pilgrims from all over Greece gather at the monastery on November 8th to celebrate the feast of Archangel Michael of Panormitis.