The monastery is situated at a close distance from the
village Mantamados, in the north-east part of Lesvos, 36 km from Mytilini and it
constitutes one of the most significant places of pilgrimage on the island. In
the past, it functioned as men's convent and is mentioned for the first time in
an ecclesiastical document from 1661.
The small church of the 17th century was replaced with a
bigger one of the 18th century, in the place of which the present church was
erected from top to bottom in 1879, following the architectural type of the
three-aisled basilica.
The monastery complex develops parametrically around the
church, adding a fort-like character to it. In the church's interior and, more
specifically, in a luxurious canopy from 1766, the wrought-in-relief icon of Taxiarches is kept, which -according to tradition- was made with soil and the
blood of the monks who were slaughtered by pirates.
Of folklore interest is the custom of the bull's
slaughter, which takes place on the anniversary of the church's inauguration.
church, adding a fort-like character to it. In the church's interior and, more
specifically, in a luxurious canopy from 1766, the wrought-in-relief icon of Taxiarches is kept, which -according to tradition- was made with soil and the
blood of the monks who were slaughtered by pirates. 
