THE HOLY MONASTERY OF GALATAKE The premier Monastery of Euboea, that was male up to 1946 and later female,

lies at hand to the unusual beautifullness coast of the boreal Euboean bay, a few kilometres out of Lynne (Elymnion), and with outlook the mount Candele. According to the tradition, the founder of the Monastery bid fair to be some captain native in Galata of Constantinople, hence and the nickname Galatake, although there is another explanation from the etymology of Greek word gala (=milk, cheese-dairy). Nevertheless the Monastery seems to be from 8o p.c. century built on the debris pre-Christian classic temple of Neptune. The captain, running the risk of foundering by the violentheavy seas at hand the mount Candele, invoked saint Nicholas. Actually the heavy sea abated and Galatakes-man moored in land, pledging to build the Monastery in honour of saint Nicholas. At era of Venice domination in Euboea (1204) the Monastery underwent destruction by bigoted papists of Bonfire Momferaticus. Beside piratical assaults and setting on fire the Monastery on the 1470 suffered new disasters by Turks conquerors. Ultimately, with Turk firman (1838) the Monastery unloaded from Turk infliction. After the Emancipation an European company undertook the operation of mine magnetise of the Monastery, so the Monastery went over being inexpensively. Since 1950 the Monastery started to be an orphanage, too. The Monastery upholds its ancient temple in excellent condition with segregated distinctly its three parts (Narthex, nave - Catholikon - and Bema) and its marvellous murals, that were completed in 1567 with contribution of captain Francis Fragomustakis, who had been thaumaturgically rescued by a violent tempest, too. The great fane of the Monastery is Byzantine style. It was reconstructed in 1557. The spacious Narthex, thickset and hulking, was stocked with fane late on (17th cent.). The Monastery spares many shreds holy relics (Andrews Firstcalled, Saint Nicholas, Menas, holymartyr Charalampus, venerable David, John Precursor, Mary Magdalene, Tryfon, Modestus, Kerykos, Panteleamon, G. Basil, Cosmas and Damianos, John Chrysostom, Theodore Stratelates, Mamas, Kyriakos, protomartyr Stephen). As well, the holy Monastery places a Chantry in the name of Honest Precursor in the right side of Narthex. As well as there is one untercroft with 18 stairs next door in the entranceway of the Chantry. Finally, the Monastery Galatake disposes a lot of (monastery) Dependencies (Lady of Politika, Archangel, Transfiguration of Saver, Assumption, Saint George). Address: The Holy Monastery of Galatake, Lynne of Euboea, Mailing-card: 340 05. Telephone: 0227-31489.