We begin our full day tour with a visit to the Monastery of St. Irene Chrysovalantou, located in Lykovrisi.  In the peaceful surroundings of the monastery, one can experience the monastic lifestyle.  Mother Irene of Chrysovalantou was the abbess of the monastery during the 9th century, where she engaged herself in vigils and prayer.  She developed the gifts of foresight and after her death at 102, she continued to be a miracle worker.  Many prayers for St. Irene’s intercessions are continually answered, one such series of miracles is for mothers who are unable to conceive.

Our next stop is the Monastery of St. Ephraim in Nea Makri, a place of pilgrimage for a saint who was known for his miracles and nowadays continues to attract thousands of believers every year.   St. Ephraim of Mount Amomon had lived from 1384 to 1426, and is venerated as a martyr and miracle-maker saint by many Greek Orthodox Christians in Greece.

We continue with a visit to the Monastery of Kaisariani, a peaceful site in which one can calm the soul and feast the eyes.  Built in the late 11th to early 12th century AD and dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin to the Temple.  The church with its chapel of St. Anthony in its center, is actually built over the ruins of a classic Roman temple and some of the fragments are incorporated into the church’s architecture. As with many Byzantine monasteries, Kaisariani is well fortified, a high wall around the monastery encloses the conventual buildings.

Following we visit the Daphni Monastery, which lies to the west of Athens, almost half-way along the ancient Sacred Way to Eleusis.  It is now a museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The Monastery and its mosaics are thought to be masterpieces of the golden era of Byzantine art.  The first monastery was erected on the site in the 6th century AD and was enclosed by strong defensive walls.  The interior of the church is decorated with superb mosaics, dating from the end of the 11th century, a unique, fine example of the Classical idealism of Middle Byzantine art.   The crowded scenes of the mosaics narrate scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin.

During the tour we will stop for a lunch break at a local traditional tavern.