The Monastery of Agia Marina in Andros is a very beautiful monastery located in the area of the village of Apikia. The legend says that the monastery was founded in 1325 AD by a monk who saw Agia Marina. With the financial help of Emperor Emmanuel II Komnenos, he founded the Monastery of Agia Marina in Andros, in honor of the miraculous Saint.

The Monastery of St. Marina in Andros – The historical background

The Monastery of Agia Marina in Andros has faced many difficulties over the centuries. In the 16th century, it was raided three times by pirates and burnt to the ground, resulting in its decline. By 1743 only 5 monks were left in the monastery. After having visions, Hieronymus Sophronios decided to sell all of his property and move to the monastery, which he converted into a nunnery in 1746. In 1883, after more than a century, the monastery was converted into a stable by decree of the Bavarian regents. The icon of the Saint was put up for forced auction and saved by the Empeirikos family.

The later history of the monastery

Metropolitan Dorotheos, seeing the ruins of the monastery, asked his deacon, the monk Kyprianos, to restore it. Kyprianos did not accept the Metropolitan’s proposal and Saint Marina appeared in the form of a vision before him. This was enough to convince the deacon and begin the restoration of the monastery. In 1976, after many efforts and struggles, Kyprianos managed to return the icon of St. Marina back to the monastery. Since then, thousands of miracles of Saint Marina have been recorded. Believers from all parts of Greece and especially from Cyprus visit the monastery every year because of a miracle that happened to a child years ago.

The Monastery of Agia Marina in Andros celebrates on July 17 and a very large number of pilgrims from Greece and abroad visit it.