St. Nicholas, the ‘Floating’ Monastery in Xanthi That Inspires Awe

This picturesque little church is located in the brackish lake of Porto Lagos, near Xanthi. The unique St. Nicholas Monastery, built in 1904, is renowned not only for its extraordinary location offering stunning views of the Thracian Sea but also for its connection to Mount Athos as it belongs to the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi. Porto Lagos lies at the border of the Xanthi and Rodopi regions where Lake Vistonida meets the Thracian Sea. The church is built on a small island within Lake Vistonida, while a nearby southern islet hosts a smaller chapel dedicated to Panagia Pantanassa, housing a copy of the miraculous icon found in the Vatopedi Monastery. Wooden pedestrian bridges connect the two islands and link them to the mainland, creating a fairy-tale landscape. Surrounded by the serene waters of the brackish lake, the church provides an atmosphere of tranquility and spirituality. Visitors crossing the wooden bridge can admire the natural beauty of the area, known for its rich biodiversity and being a haven for rare bird species like pink flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans. The church attracts many pilgrims annually, especially during the feast day of St. Nicholas (December 6), the patron saint of sailors. Additionally, during the August holidays, many faithful visit the chapel to pray to the Virgin Mary Pantanassa. It’s worth noting that Lake Vistonida is one of the most important wetlands in Greece, protected under the Ramsar Convention. As the fourth largest lake in Greece, it spans 45 square kilometers with a maximum length of 12.5 km and width of 7 km.