Saint Nicholas Galatakis Monastery
The Saint Nicholas Galatakis Monastery is a monastery located in northern Euboea and very close to the shores of the Northern Euboean gulf, at a distance of 9 km southeast of Limni and 67 km northwest of Chalcis. It is built at an altitude of 110m, with a southeast view of Mount Kandili, while it is considered the oldest monastery of Euboea, which until 1946 was male monastery, and later female. Since 1958 it has been designated an ancient monument.
Historical evidence
According to tradition, the founder of the Monastery is someone from Galata of Constantinople, hence the nickname "Galataki", a native master, who around the 10th century, in danger of being drowned by a fierce storm near Mount Kandili, invoked the help of Saint Nicholas. Indeed, the rough sea stopped and "Galatakis" rushed to land, undertaking the construction of a Monastery in honor of Saint Nicholas.During the period of the Venetian rule in Euboea, the Monastery was destroyed by the fanatical Papists of Boniface of Montferrat. Apart from the pirate attacks and arson attacks, the Monastery in 1470 suffered new disasters from the Turkish conquerors. Finally, with a Turkish firman, he was freed from the Turkish troubles. After the Liberation, a European Company took over the operation of the leucolith mine of the Monastery, thus giving it a great economic boost. From 1950 the Monastery began to function as an orphanage.
The Holy Monastery preserves its ancient church in excellent condition, with its three distinct parts and its famous frescoes, which were completed in 1567 with the financial contribution of Master Francis Fragomustakis, who had also been miraculously saved from a severe storm. The large temple of the Monastery is of the Byzantine style. It was rebuilt in 1557. The spacious narthex, massive and heavy, was later attached to the church.
The Monastery has many relics of Saints.
Also, the Holy Monastery has a chapel named after the Holy Forerunner on the right side of the Narthex. Next to the entrance of the Chapel there is also a Crypt with 18 steps.
Finally, the Galataki Monastery also has many shares.