Saint Irene Chrysovalantou Monastery Lykovrisi

Today the Saint Irene Chrysovalantou Lykovrisi monastery follows one of the strictest monastic rules in any convent in Greece and adheres to the Old Calendar. The nuns maintain a permanent fast at this monastery in imitation of St. Irene, their Abbess. It comprises a building which occupies approximately 50 acres.

It offers accomodations for both men and women in seperate wings for those who wish to stay at the monastery to participate in its worship services. These several guest rooms are available throughout the year except on the feast day of St. Irene on July 28th (according to the Old Calendar). Because of the nuns strict fast, they only offer pilgrims fruit and nuns, so if one wishes to eat at the monastery one must bring their own food and not expect to feast in the dining room as in most other monasteries.

During your stay, it should be noted that the nuns in the monastery maintain a permanent fast, therefore offing just fruit and nuts.  No other food is on offer. There is no dining room for the faithful guests, as seen in other monasteries. If you therefore intend to stay, you should take some food with you.

Suitable clothing must be worn to enter the monastery. Shorts, short skirts, and sleeveless shirts, are strictly prohibited from both men and women. Men are to be dressed as men and women as women. This means that women are prohibited from wearing any kind of pants and must wear a long dress to cover their legs.

If a woman wishes to venerate the monastery icons, lipstick must be completely removed.