The Monastery of Eloni or Elona is a monastery in the prefecture of Arcadia. It is a nunnery and four nuns dwell in the monastery according to the census of 2001.
Elona is built on a steep slope of Parnonas. Based on the administrative division of the prefecture, it is included in the municipal section of Kosmas in the municipality of South Kynouria. It is 35 kilometers far from Tyros and 17 kilometers far from Leonidio.
The history of the monastery dates back to 1300. Based on the record, the shepherds of the region saw a light in an inaccessible spot on the slope of Parnonas. At first, they did not pay attention to it, but the continuation of the phenomenon increased their curiosity, leading them to the bishop of Reon and Prastos. The bishop gathered the village and they tried to give an explanation to the peculiar occurrence. The result was that they realized that it was the light of a candle, which was lit up in front of an icon. The height, however, at which the icon was, made impossible any effort to approach it.
After their prayers, the icon moved at a lower height and the boldest attendants climbed up the mountain and found out it was an icon of the Virgin Mary “Vrefokratousa”. After that, they built an improvised wooden chapel, where they placed the icon, while, for the access to it, a rope ladder was constructed.
In the area where the icon was found, two monks, Kallinikos and Dositheos, lived as hermits. The bishop asked them to settle in the exact place where the picture was found. With the help of the inhabitants of the area, the two monks soon built a small chapel and two cells, creating, in effect, the monastery. Based on traditions and manuscripts, the two monks had a terrible death in the hands of two Turks. Based on the same tradition, the two slaughters lost their sight when they attempted to plunder the temple of the monastery and regained it only after the supplications of the inhabitants of the neighboring Kosmas. Those supplications may be the reason that the inhabitants of that village got some privileges at that time. In the following years the monastery prosperes and acquires a large number of pilgrims and donors.
After the failed Revolution of 1770 (Orlofika) the Turks destroy the Peloponnese as a retaliation. During this period the monastery is ignited and plundered, while its monks are slaughtered. The monastery was rebuilt over the next decade.
The temple of the monastery dates back to 1809, information provided by an inscription at its central entrance. It was built upon the foundations of the previous destroyed temple and its size is bigger than the previous one. Specifically it is 14,90 meters long and 5,10 wide.
It has neither a dome, nor visual hagiographies. However, its iconostasis is carved and made of walnut wood. Emblazonments from the Old and New Testament and works of important artists are painted on it, as it results from the remembrances that exist on them. The belfry of the temple was built in 1831.
The temple is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and its memory is celebrated on August 15th.
On August 18 of 2006, the historical icon of Virgin Mary was stolen from the monastery along with its tributes. This theft was noticeable and publicized by both the Greek and the international media. The icon was detected by the Hellenic Police 38 days later at Faraklos of Laconia. The perpetrator was arrested and the icon was returned to its place with a festive ceremony. An iconostasis was built at the location where the icon was found, whose cost was covered by the Hellenic Police and in which was placed an exact copy of the icon, exactly a year after its detection.
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