The nowadays’ nunnery of Saint Theodosius the New, is located in a beautiful area next to the village of Panaritis, eight kilometers from Nafplion. It was founded in 880 AD by the ascetic Saint Theodosius.
The saint, Athenian in origin, lived as anhermit in a cave east of Argos. Saint John the Baptist was appeared in front of him, whose face filled him with afterglow and power, so the ascetic built a temple in his name, which is still preserved, exuding spiritual aroma. Around this temple was developed the monastery with the arrival of many monks.
Shortly before the courtyard of this historic monastery, there is the “Meeting”. A small white chapel dedicated to the memory of the first encounter of Saint Peter, Bishop of Argos, and Saint Theodosius that happened there. The saint was accused to the bishop by malevolent and slanderous people that he is supposedly a demagogue. The bishop was sad to remove Theodosius from the area. However, the ascetic appeared to him with vision and revealed to him the conspiracy against him. At the same time he was appeared to the Patriarch who asked the bishop, who was in Constantinople at that time, to deter the expulsion from his hermitage. In this way the will of God was made clear. Saint Peter turning to Argos took his own way and went to meet the holy ascetic. Theodosius foretold his coming and went out to respond to the Saint, holding his cap with charcoal burning instead of incense burner without being burnt! The memory of the event is celebrated since 1956, the first Sunday after May 3 – Saint Peter's Day.
After the death of Saint Theodosius (about 922) the monastery deserted and operated again in the early 16th century. At the beginning of the Venetian occupation, it was granted to the Venetian-friendly Cretan family of Hortatsis, and in 1835 the monastery's fortune came to the state.
In 1942, with the actions of the late Bishop John, it operated again as a nunnery. Since then, the nuns of the monastery have been performing a rich charity and spiritual work, while ensuring the harmony and preservation of the rooms of the historic monastery. Abbot of the monastery is the nun named Phoebe.
The building complex of the monastery is impressive. It consists of temples, cells and guest houses, while in the center is the katholikon (majon temple) of the Monastery. To the south of the complex is the skete-hermitage of Saint Theodosius, which has become the temple of the Holy Cross.
The tomb of the Saint and one piece of his relics (most of which was taken by the Latins) is in the chapel of Timios Prodromos, which he himself built and is an inexhaustible source of spirits through the centuries. Paralyzed people were lifted, blinds regained their sight, childless became fertile, and many patients found their treatment.
The monastery of Saint Theodosius celebrates on the feast of the saint, on August 7, gathering a multitude of believers.
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