24 Oct NEA MONI MONASTERY OF CHIOS
Nea Moni monastery is a source of pride for Chios and undoubtedly the most important Byzantine monument of the island. It has been the subject of constant concern of the Archaeological Service ever since the island was liberated in 1912, and it still continues to enjoy a large portion of the attention of the local Ephorate of Antiquities.
The ten centuries that have elapsed since the foundation of the monastery, and its almost one thousand year long existence and operation have left their indelible mark on the monastic comples. The restoration projects that have been carried out in recent years in Nea Moni are significant, and was made possible by funding from European Community Partnership Framework Programs. In the 1990s, with funding from the Second European Community Partnership Framework (1994-1999), the cistern and, more important, the Trapeza refectory building, which was threatened with imminent collapse, were restored. In the following decade, on the dawn of the 21st century, and with funding from the Third European Community Partnership Framework (2000-2006) this time, the Katholikon of the monastery was restored and its wall paintings conserved; at the same time, excavations unearthed the eastern cells, and their ruins were enhanced.
Lastly, an en exhibition of the antiquities that were discovered during these projects was organized in the refectory building which was converted into and still operates as a museum space.
Taking advantage of the Partnership Agreement for the Development Framework (2007-2013), two cells of the north wing of the monastery were fully restored in 2012. The present guide was also published thanks to this last Program, and includes all the new findings of the last twenty years in the complex of Nea Moni.