The monastery of Ypsilos, an active men's monastery,
is dedicated to St John Theologos and is located in the west part of
Lesvos, on the top of Mt Ordymnos, at a height of 634 m and at a distance
of 81 km from Mytilini. Tradition places the foundation of the monastery
in Byzantine years, before A.D. 800, and mentions it as "Monastery of
Korakas", a name which was modified to "Monastery of Zisira" in the years
of the Turkish occupation.
From its Byzantine phase very little information has
been saved and is believed that the monastery was abandoned and devastated
in late Byzantine years. The monastery flourishes again in post-Byzantine
years but it is destroyed by fire. The existing katholikon (main church)
was built in 1832 and constitutes part of a monastic complex, which
develops around the katholikon.
In the monastery there is a particularly interesting
vestry as well as a library with important manuscripts.
its Byzantine phase very little information has
been saved and is believed that the monastery was abandoned and devastated
in late Byzantine years. The monastery flourishes again in post-Byzantine
years but it is destroyed by fire. The existing katholikon (main church)
was built in 1832 and constitutes part of a monastic complex, which
develops around the katholikon. 
