The Golden-Staired Monastery of Chrysoskalitissa

A Monastery you say? A winery maybe. Rarely excited by anything remotely religious. However, in this instance our guide taught us so much about human existence and tenacity. This place had seen so much history. Fair play, it had even been a secret safe haven against extremely dangerous and violent oppressors.

The Monastery is believed to have had gold stairs at one point which were stolen. Hence its long name, the Gold-Staired. It’s worth studying its history in association with that of Elafonissi to get a handle on how much suffering these local people have had to endure over the centuries. Staggeringly unpleasant reading.

Above are images showing spectacular views out to sea. There is an old nunnery outside in the grounds - can’t have mixed sexes living together, eh? We were fortunate to witness a gathering of locals for a baptism. The Priests even invited us inside to see what was happening, a unique insight to a completely foreign culture.

Without a local guide you really wouldn’t have much idea about the functions of the numerous rooms, including a secret school.

I had to include the photo of the candle-making frame, being a wax man, the author of the Waxworks! Damn! There goes my Discord handle. Haha!