Panagia Spiliani

The Virgin Mary of the Cave - Moni Spilianis

Useful Information

Location:	Pithagorio 831 03. North of the town Pythagoreon, Island of Samos. (37.6957976, 26.9370579)
Open:	All year daily 9-14:30, 17-20. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Cave Church Water Supply
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=120 m, W=36 m, H=8.5 m, A=125 m asl.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Monastery of Panagia Spiliani, Pythagorion, 831 03 Samos, Tel: +30-22730-61361.
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History

1952	explored by Ioannis Petrocheilos from the Hellenic Speleological Society.
1836	monastery founded.

Description

The monastery of Panagia Spiliani (The Virgin Mary of the Cave), offers a spectacular view on the ancient ruins of the old town of Pythagoreon and the nearby Turkish coast. It is a branch of the Hozeviotissa monastery of Amorgos. 95 steps lead down into a huge cave with a cave church inside, dedicated to Virgin Mary. It contains an old tile icon called Panagia Kaliarmenissa (the good traveller). This name is explained by the following legend.

One day some strangers stole the icon and took it to their home town. But when unloading the boat, the icon fell into the sea and broke into five pieces. The five pieces were transported by the sea currents, until finally all five were washed to the coast of Samos and discovered by the locals. After all pieces had returned, the icon was restored and put back to its original place in the cave church. That’s why it is called Kaliarmenissa (the good traveller).

This cave is not a natural cave, but an abandoned quarry. It was once used to quarry the limestone blocks which were needed to erect the buildings of ancient Pythagoreon and the famous city walls. It was first inhabited by a sort of hermit, the female diviner named Fyto, during Roman times. Local lore says this was the home of the Oracle of Sibyl (600-500 BC). She prophesized Pythagoras’s journey to South Italy, and his intellectual development. And actually Pythagoras established a philosophical school, in the place where the monastery stands today.

The cave has been a place of worship since ancient times. But after the end of the Roman age, the site was abandoned for some time. The first Christian cave church was probably built during Byzantine times. The church was erected much later, and next to the cave, a small chapel was built dedicated to Saint George. During the Turkish occupation, the locals used the caves as a hideout for women and children.

The cave has a pool of dripping water called Agiasma which is considered to contain Holy Water. One of the walls features a Christian cross as a relief.