Moni Tsambika Monastery / Panagia Tsambika

The most famous of the monasteries, called Moni Tsambika Monastery or Panagia Tsambika, is located on the mountain of the same name on the east coast of Rhodes, between the resorts of Kolymbia and Archangelos. It's a small white church with a beautiful courtyard, which is particularly striking because of its floor decorated with various pebbles and shells and the abundance of colourful flowers all around and there are also several benches conveniently placed in the shade of the trees. The age of the Moni Tsambika Monastery is not exactly known, but it was rebuilt in 1770 by local monks.

The monastery stands at an altitude of about 230 metres above sea level and offers visitors a breathtaking spectacle, as the popular tourist resort of Kolymbia lies to the north and the picturesque town of Lindos can be seen to the south. One of the most beautiful beaches on the island of Rhodes, the sandy Tsambika Beach, stretches right under the rock.

Legends and Tsambika Monastery

There are two mysterious stories connected to the Moni Tsambika Monastery. The first, and more widely known, tells of a married couple who were troubled by the fact that they were still not blessed with a child, even though they would have liked one. One evening the man saw a mysterious glow on a nearby mountain (the word Tsambika means "fiery glow" in Greek), the next day again and when this repeated itself on the third night, his curiosity did not give way and he made his way up. Then he found a glowing icon of the Virgin Mary at the top of the rock, he began to pray to her and ask for a child. He also promised the Virgin Mary that if she heared his prayers, he would build here a beautiful monastery and place the icon there. When the man returned home, his wife was waiting for him with the good news. The man did not forget his promise, he built a monastery up on the rock and the couple named their newborn daughter Tsambika. By the way, on the island of Rhodes, the names Tsambika (girl) and Tsambikos (boy) are still popular among parents.

The second legend begins with how local fishermen found a beautiful icon of the Virgin Mary on Tsambika Beach. And because they were honest, they started searching for its owner. Eventually they discovered that the icon came from the island of Cyprus and returned it there. But how was their surprise when they found the icon again on the local beach the next day! When this happened again, the fishermen believed that the wish of the icon of the Virgin Mary was to stay on the island of Rhodes, so they decided to build a nice monastery on the rock above the beach. There was plenty of building material needed and it was not an easy way up, so even childless women helped with carrying the stones and bricks up the rock. And when the monastery was finished, suddenly these women miraculously became pregnant, even though they had been unable to conceive for a long time.

To this day, women still make pilgrimages to the Panagia Tsambika Monastery to pray for the birth of a child. If their prayers are heared, they give the child the name Tsambika or Tsambikos or bring a gift to the Virgin Mary. It is also said that women should go up to the monastery barefoot.

Kato Tsambika Monastery

The second monastery, known as Kato Tsambika (i.e. "Lower Tsambika"), is within sight of the first (about 3.5 km to the southwest), but you don't have to climb up the cliff to reach it. It is said to have been created primarily to better protect the icon of Virgin Mary of Tsambika - the Kato Tsambika Monastery is more splendid, better secured and permanently guarded. The icon is therefore housed in this lower monastery for most of the year and is brought up to the original monastery during the festivities held on 7 and 8 September.

The Tsambika Monasteries are located on the main road running along the eastern coast of Rhodes, about 25 km south of the capital city of Rhodes. The lower Kato Tsambika stands right by the road, while a more challenging journey awaits you to the upper Panagia Tsambika, as it is possible to go to up to about two-thirds of the hill by car, where there is a parking place and from here you have to go uphill by foot. However, the path is paved and has about 300 steps. In return, you will be rewarded for your efforts with a magnificent view. It is not for nothing that Moni Tsambika Monastery is nicknamed "the monastery in the clouds".

More touristic destinations of Rhodes

Most favourite sights of Rhodes: Acropolis of Lindos, Acropolis of Rhodes, Monolithos Castle, Tsambika Monastery, Kolossos of Rhodes, Palace of the Grand Masters - Rhodes Town

Resorts, beaches, sights or trips - clearly listed on the map of Rhodes.