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TheSkiathos Guide
Evangelistria Monastery, Skiathos
Evangelistria Monastery Giles Laurent · CC BY-SA 4.0

Monastery · Μονή Ευαγγελιστρίας

Evangelistria Monastery

The island's most important religious site, founded in 1794, where tradition holds the first Greek flag was woven and raised — and where the loom is still on display.

Getting thereAbout 4–5km north of Skiathos Town on a pave…
Allow45–90 minutes including the museum and shop
CostMonastery free; ecclesiastical museum around…

The cradle of modern Greece

The Monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary was founded in 1794 by Kollyvades monks, a monastic reform movement. It is the most important single sight on Skiathos for anyone interested in Greek history, and the reason is a flag.

In 1807 the first Greek flag — a white cross on a blue ground — was designed, woven, blessed and raised here. Abbot Niphon administered oaths to leading revolutionary figures gathered at the monastery, among them Theodoros Kolokotronis and Andreas Miaoulis. The loom on which the flag was woven is displayed in the monastery museum. During the 1821 revolution the monastery sheltered fighters and refugees and contributed money to the cause. Greek writing about the site calls it the cradle of modern Greece.

An honest caveat. The "first Greek flag" claim is a strong national tradition, universally repeated in Greek sources — but competing claims to first-flag status exist elsewhere in Greece, and we could not establish how historians adjudicate between them. It is safest read as "traditionally held to have been first raised here", which is how we have written it.

The wine, which is real

Since 1998 the monastery has again produced and bottled Alypiakos wine, after a break of roughly 150 years. It is a red Muscat, named after Father Alypos, the monastery's fourth abbot. There are vineyards on site with a cafe beside them, and the shop sells wine, liqueurs and spirits, honey, olive oil, herbs, icons and books.

The monastery's own tradition holds that the grape was first produced on the island in the 5th century BC. Treat that as tradition rather than history.

Visiting

Getting there. About 4–5km north of Skiathos Town — sources differ slightly. Take the road towards Kastro and a signposted right turn. The access road is paved and fine for an ordinary car, which is not true of most of the island's northern sites. There is a dedicated bus route from the port. Walkable from town if you are reasonably fit, and it is uphill.

Hours. Generally open daily from morning until late afternoon, with hours varying on holidays and feast days. One source gives 08:00–12:00 and 16:00–20:00 but we could not corroborate it, and a wasted trip across a siesta window is exactly the mistake worth avoiding — check locally before setting out.

Dress code. This is an active place of worship: shoulders and knees covered. Most Greek monasteries provide wraps at the gate; we could not confirm that this one does, so dress for it rather than count on it.

It gets busy with excursion groups in high season, and photography inside churches is often prohibited.

Frequently asked questions

Was the first Greek flag really made at Evangelistria Monastery on Skiathos?

Tradition holds that it was, in 1807 — designed, woven, blessed and raised at the monastery, with Abbot Niphon administering oaths to revolutionary leaders including Kolokotronis and Miaoulis. The loom is displayed in the monastery museum. It is a strong and universally repeated Greek tradition, though competing first-flag claims exist elsewhere in Greece.

How far is Evangelistria Monastery from Skiathos Town?

About 4–5km north. Sources differ slightly. The access road is paved and suitable for an ordinary car, unlike the dirt tracks to most northern sites, and there is a bus route from the port.

Does Evangelistria Monastery make wine?

Yes. Since 1998 it has again produced and bottled Alypiakos, a red Muscat named after the monastery's fourth abbot, after a break of roughly 150 years. There are vineyards on site with a cafe, and the shop sells wine, spirits, honey, olive oil, herbs, icons and books.

What should I wear to Evangelistria Monastery?

Modest dress — shoulders and knees covered for both men and women. It is a working monastery, not a museum. Many Greek monasteries lend wraps at the gate but we could not confirm this one does, so dress appropriately rather than rely on it.

Is there an entry fee for Evangelistria Monastery?

Entry to the monastery is free. The ecclesiastical museum is around €2, though that figure comes from a single source and is not verified.

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