Saint Thomas, Monolithos

The parish church of Saint Thomas is located in the center of the mountainside village of Monolithos, on the slopes of Mount Akramitis, in the southwest of the island. It is found 80 kilometeres from the city of Rhodes. It is a single-space, cruciform church, probably built in 1830 based on oral tradition, with a narthex. It has a wooden, painted three-part iconostasis imitating marble, with portable icons from the 19th century, with the oldest being the icon of “Panagia Galaktotrophousa” (the Virgin breastfeeding infant Jesus) from 1719. The belfry is a newer addition. The church celebrates on Antipascha Sunday (Sunday after Easter), also called Sunday of Apostle Thomas, who is the patron saint of the area. On the eve, a celebratory vespers is held, while on the day of the feast, a magnificent Divine Liturgy is celebrated with the participation of the Metropolitan and faithful believers as well as visitors of the island. It is characteristic that after the end of the Divine Liturgy, a memorial service is held and wreaths are laid at the monument for the residents of Monolithos who contributed to the resistance against foreign troops during the Second World War. It is worth noting that the last military operations against the German-Italian forces took place in this area. At a short distance to the west, built on a verdant hill, we find the hospitaller castle of Monolithos (1476) with the single-space church of Saint Panteleimon (15th century) and its commanding view. A little further north lies the archaeological site of Kymisala and the mountain village of Sianna with the church of Saint Panteleimon.