Monastery of Aghia Pelagia . . . The monastery was probably founded in the 11th or 12th century. The name of Aghia Pelagia (1752-1834), a humble nun whose visions were instrumental in the discovery of the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary of Tinos, is inextricably linked to the history of the monastery.       Left and right: Monastery of Aghia Pelagia Every year on 23 July, the feast day of Aghia Pelagia, the icon of the Virgin Mary is brought from the church of Evangelistria to the church of Aghia Pelagia in the monastery of Kechrovouni, where a solemn Divine Liturgy is held. With its cube-shaped cells, ‘roofs’, arches and terraces, narrow alleyways and marble fountains, the architecturally outstanding building complex of the monastery of Kechrovouni gives the impression of a typical Cycladic settlement. The catholicon of the monastery, which is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, has a carved wooden iconostasis wall with post-Byzantine icons and remarkable frescoes. Pilgrims have the opportunity to visit the cell of Aghia Pelagia of Tinos.       Left: The iconostasis wall       Right: The cell of Aghia Pelagia According to tradition, three devout sisters from Tripotamos saw a light every night in the area of Kechrovouni, where the monastery is located today. In this place there were three small churches of the Holy Trinity, Timios Prodromos and Pammegiston Taxiarches. They regarded the light they saw as a divine call and built a cell for their monks next to each chapel. Gradually, a large community of monks developed and the monastery complex was built. The monastery reached the number of 120 nuns, whereas today it houses around 50. The monastery was the home of Saint Pelagia, who found the holy icon of the Virgin Mary in a vision on 30 January 1823, which is why the monastery of Kechrovouni is of inestimable religious and historical value. The monastery is of particular architectural interest as it has a simple Cycladic architecture with dominant elements of stone, arches, cobbled alleys and white colour, giving the impression of a traditional village surrounded by a fortress wall. In the centre of the monastery is the church dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. On the left side of the catholicon are the churches of Timios Prodromos, Agia Christina, Agia Triada and Zoodochos Pigi, the monks' cells and the adjoining rooms. The library of the Kechrovouni monastery contains over 2000 books on various topics (theological, historical, musical). The sanctuary has been restored and houses relics of saints, a silver-plated icon of the Virgin Mary from the nave of Constantine Kanaris and a silver gospel donated to the monastery by Queen Olga. In the monastery museum you can view the Kechrovouni ecclesiastical collection with icons from the 18th and 19th centuries, ecclesiastical vessels, vestments and books. The monks' daily routine begins with the morning bell ringing at 5am. The morning service takes place and afterwards they are busy cleaning the cells, the churches, the common rooms, hagiography and writing books. The nuns also make various handicrafts, which are sold and can be found in the monastery's exhibition along with various other souvenirs. Vespers is celebrated at 4.00 pm and the nuns' day ends with dinner and personal prayer in their cell.