Location
The Monastery of Saint Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos) is located about 4 kilometers from the town of Hydra (one hour’s walk) and about 5.2 kilometers from the women’s Monastery or Convent of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary of Zourva (an hour and a half of walking). The path to the Monastery of the Virgin is quite rough. Date of foundation has not been established. Some say 1675, others 1724.
The church is Byzantine style with an octagonal dome. The Holy Monastery flourished during the period after the revolution of 1821 but declined after the war of 1940. Originally, the monastery was for men, but in 1983, when it was restored and renovated, it transformed into a women’s monastery or convent.
From the Monastery of Saint Nicholas, we can descend to the gorgeous secluded beach of Limioniza (1,100 meters) and swim in the crystal waters of the bay--a lovely treat that will compensate us for our grueling walk. Unfortunately, we will pay the price as we return, when we have to climb 250 meters (in altitude) as we walk 700 meters to reach the point where we turned down toward the beach.
If instead of descending to the left toward Limioniza we continue to the road toward the town of Hydra, then in about 1,400 meters from the Monastery of Saint Nicholas we will find the men’s Monastery of the Holy Trinity, which was founded in 1704.
Sources
Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas - Hydra
As well as the links mentioned in the articles and generally the key texts of sources about the Saronic Gulf area of Exploring Greece
