It is a three-aisled basilica, the central aisle of which is housed with a dome. The sanctuary of the church is also housed with a low blind dome. At the base of the arch of the sanctuary there is a semicircular Synthronon. In the construction of the church building material consisting of alabaster and previously used architectural features dating to the ancient and early Christian period has been used. The arches and the western façade of the church date to a later phase, as evidenced by the sloppiness of the building.
To the left of the entrance, on the west wall, there is an inscription that informs us about the renovation of the church in the year 1718. On the south wall of the church, two shorings have been built to support the wall, between which a winepress and a receptacle have been built. To the north of the north aisle an elongated building-chapel with an arch to the east is built. On the facade of the built altar is an early Christian inscription with the invocation of Deacons Theodore and Paul. According to tradition, the chapel is called a "slave church" as its use for worship purposes had been discontinued for a long time. To the west of the church the foundations of buildings, most likely cells, and two large ovens were visible until recently. Of these, one cell still exists today, which is now used as a dining room on the feast day of the Saint. To the east of the church are two vaulted water tanks.
In the quarter sphere of the arch of the Sanctuary, the Prayer is depicted, with Christ in the middle, accompanied by Panagia (Virgin Mary) and Agios Ioannis o Theologos. Six Hierarchs are represented in the half-cylinder of the arch. Beneath the mural, part of which has been destroyed, the upper and left leg of a cross stands, made of plinths. Traces of murals can also be seen on the intrados of the arches. The iconostasis is adorned with two remarkable portable icons, of Christ and of Agios Ioannis o Theologos. Detailed architectural mapping of the church was carried out for the first time in 1975, by the Architect, Professor of the N.T.U.A., Mr. Man. Korre, when the church and the building complex were completely abandoned. From the imprint, it became possible to date at least one, construction phase of the church in the period of the Iconoclasm (8th-9th century). However, the monumental complex of Agios Ioannis o Theologos, at the uninhabited and steep eastern end of the island, is still unknown to the scientific community. Numerous questions, such as the origin of the built-in archeological material, ancient inscriptions, as well as architectural features of Roman and Early Christian times, and the exact dating of the various building phases, remain unanswered.
In recent years, on the initiative of the Holy Monastery of Hozoviotissa, extensive construction work has been carried out, while recently the work was supervised by the competent Ephorate of Antiquities.
Means of access:
CAR
,
BUS
,
TAXI
,
TRADITIONAL PATH: "PAN" Route
Lagada – Agios Ioannis – Stavros – Krikelos
Opening hours:
Open during the summer months. Visit after contacting the Monastery of Hozoviotissa
Entry fees:
Free
