On the Greek island of Hydra Hydra greece you will find abbeys, churches, chapels and road side offeratories (I am still looking for the appropriate name for the little religious boxes which contain candle lights, matches etc so you can make your prayer offering,) with most of the larger open up to the public when not formally being utilized for a service. The larger structures such as the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary are designated as an abbey, which indicates that weddings can not be carried out in them (just baptisms & funerals).
The Cathedral is beautiful and you are more than welcome, so long as you are dressed appropriately, to walk within the boundaries of the cloisters and even enter the Cathedral Church itself. Taking photos or recording is not permitted without the express permission of the Bishop. You can see Katerina in the Ecclesiastical Museum (who speaks English) to make a request of the Bishop on your behalf.
The Cathedral is designated as an Abbey therefore it is just utilized for services, baptisms and funerals. Marital relationships can not occur in an Abbey. The Mayor's Office consisting of the Registrar (for births, deaths & marital relationships) utilize the grand reception rooms opposte the main entryway to the Cathedral Church. Although the Registrar has an office, due to the fact that of the Monastery status, it is not possible to have a civil wedding on the grounds. So Pc registry weddings are held back the facilities at a location chose by the couple.
The monastery of Panagia Zourva is one of the most remote of the Greek Orthodox abbeys on Hydra Island Greece. It is reached over land or through 645 steps up from Zourva Bay if you go to completion of the island by boat. Its name day is commemorated on the 8th of September.
The Zourva Monestery is a complex of buildings with the main church at the centre.
It is a fully functioning monestery, which is run by just 5 nuns who live and work there all year.
In addition to the primary church there are many devoted chapels and numerous structures with simple spaces where members of the congregation, checking out Greek Orthodox clergy or practitioneers can be accommodated.
Along with their spiritual commitments and observances, the nuns work relentlessly to maintain the buildings, grow their own food and tend their animals.
The 8th of September is the Name Day of Panagia Zourva when the nuns host hundreds of visitors for the service. A few of the congregation arrive to stay with the nuns the week before to aid with the preparations.
The name day service begins early in the morning around 6am. Many Hydriots, particularly those who have decsendants buried at the monastery or were baptised there, will go out of Hydra harbour at around 7am to make the 'trip' to the monastery. Some will stroll nearly 7km each method. Others will take a boat or water taxi along the coast to the bottom of the cliff at Zourva Bay and after that stroll the 645 actions up to the top.
On Call Days everybody is very first invited with much needed water and coffee. The congregation frequently bring clothing to change into and can utilize the lodging spaces to swop their attire. Even infants are welcome to use the lodging for 'power naps' prior to being presented to the neighborhood. My 5 month old grandson made his first trip this year (2017) to meet the nuns and his Daddy (Vasilis) paid his aspects to his grandparents who are buried at one of the abbey's chapels. Everyone cools off after the 'hike', enjoying the light creep into the bay as the sun climbs to its zenith, prior to joining the churchgoers in the main church or on its terrace.