Rodozachari the Archangels Monastery, Aigialeia
The Holy Archangels Monastery, Located at the foot of Mount Klokos, in a pine forest, on the right bank of the river Selinus. It is from about Aigio 15 km, from Patras 55 km and from Athens, 190 km.
HISTORY MONASTERY – OSIOS LEONTIOS
Born in 1377 Monemvasia by rich and noble family. He was the son of Andrew Mammon, Duke of Monemvasia and Theodora Palaiologina, daughter Andronicus IV Palaeologos. Leo as he was named, He studied foreign languages in Istanbul, philosophy and theology.
When his father died, He returned to Monemvasia and saw his mother. Then his mother retired to a monastery and Leo, wishing married. Went through great tribulations as he died his wife and children so he decided to become a monk. So he became a monk with the name and Leondios hermit for some time near the ascetic, the Menidi.
Then he went to Mount Athos, where he acquired great ascetic experience. The 1415-1420 comes to term Klokos, the position today is "Palaiomonastiro», which creates Cloister of. The Leondios died on 11 December 1452, At the age 75 years and the reputation of virtue remained after the death of. After the death of Leontius, Palaiologoi brothers, Thomas and Demetrius, despots of the Peloponnesus, in honor of St., They built a church in the place where a hermit, in the name of Archangel Michael and some of the buildings.
- the 1500 The monastery was destroyed by arson, the Turks and renovated.
- 1620 destroyed again by the Turks and rebuilt themselves monks, in its current position.
- 1772 destroyed by the Albanians against Orlov.
- 1782, about, after 10 years, the few monks who had left again built the monastery and dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, ie today's Monastery of the Archangels.
- 1821 The monastery played an important role as an active participant in the armed struggle, offering money and paying for hospital buildings and warehouse for ammunition and food.
In the years after the liberation flourished and had great spiritual work, the school and library function.
today's form – Palaiomonastiro
From the original monastery of Saint Leontius, today preserved the Byzantine Church of the Archangel Michael, with frescoes 16th century. and nearby a small church with a dome, the same period. Access to Cloister of St. made by a stone staircase with 51 steps. Inside Cave you will see the small Church of the Resurrection, who first made the Saint, with frescoes 16th c., the Holy Relics of St. Leontius and just beyond the tomb of St..
In the monastery are kept parts of the "Blessed Passion ", as part of the Crown of thorns of Christ, part of the Holy Wood of the Cross, part of the sponge, in which watered with vinegar Christ, part of the red chlamydia who dressed Christ to ridicule, in His path to Calvary.
Also here are kept some of the hair of St. John the Baptist, hand martyr Aretha and the skull of St. Stephen the New. All these were tender Paleologos brothers, Temple of Archangel Michael. The Katholicon is cruciform formula, tertakionios, with octagonal dome. The monastery is male and celebrating the Archangels, 8 November and 11 December, in memory of Saint Leontius.
THE MONASTERY OF SWEET RODOZACHARI
The Monastery has been known for producing the famous rodozacharis, a particular sweets, prepared from petals. Is produced, Moni for over 100 years. The monastery has there award diploma from the Thessaloniki Fair 1935, the original recipe of sweet. Once the monastery had over 20 ha. cultivated land of roses, with great production, but unfortunately the fire area burned most of the fertile land of the monastery.
Roses are gathered, by monks, in baskets, sieved into crates and then separated the petals. The production process of the sweet made entirely by Monks monastery. Net rose petals placed in a tub, together with sugar and begin to knead the ingredients until a pasta.To mixture is kneaded by hand, without any water and the sugar melts to liquid take off rose petals. specifically in 1 kg roses using 6 kg sugar. The paste is made, It is the raw material of sweet and can be left in the refrigerator for a long time as the roses are harvested only in May.
When ready the paste enters a boiler and begins to boil, until it thickens. When the desired temperature is reached 35 grades, stops boiling and sweet is ready. The warm rodozachari place in special stainless steel containers, to freeze and then in sterile glass jars.
The glass vases have the photo of the Monastery and the inscription "Rodozachari Aigialeia Archangels Monastery».
The rodozachari, after ordering, It reaches across Greece but has orders from abroad, such as Italy and Germany. for orders, I. M. Archangels, tel. : 26910 56300.
