The Monastery of Prophet Elias (Pefkos Cross)

Start: Centre of Pefkos, at the crossroads, at the bottom of the hill by the taxi rank.

(S/E) Start at the crossroads in Pefkos, at the bottom of the hill by the taxi rank. Facing towards the coast, take the road to the left following the low wall (South-East), which is characterised by the cat feeding station, and continuing past the Nostalgia restaurant. Keep to this road as it slowly rises out of the centre of the village and beyond the restaurants and tavernas. Keep going for a total of 800m along this road.

Where the road gently curves to the right with Anixis Taverna on the left continue for approx 80m past this and on the left there is a rough path leading up through the scrub. This is just an opening into the scrub but fairly obvious.

(1) Take this track East which leads through the shade of the pine trees and ascends to the road above. Turn left onto the road and continue gaining height. After 700m North, the road passes Pefkos Blue hotel on the left with the road diverging as two separate routes.

(2) Take the right fork out onto the main road to Lindos. There is 100m of walking along this road. Take care as this is the main coast highway. As the road sharply bends to the left, there is a parking area on the right with signs for the Prophet Elias monastery and an archway which leads to stone steps ascending up the steep hill.

(3) Ascend the steps to the top. This is quite a climb but there are handrails and a flat area with a simple bench partway up where one can catch ones breath and admire the scenery.

(4) Return down the steps, and back along the main road towards Pefkos. On the right, at the junction from whence one came, is the Agios Ioannis, Chapel of St John the Baptist.

(3) Turn left, continue along the main road as it curves around and down to Pefkos. There is plenty of room on the left hand side of the road for pedestrians.

(5) As the road descends to the crossroads in the centre of Pefkos, on the left is Agios Nektarios. The crossroads is where the walk started. (S/E)

Start: Centre of Pefkos, at the crossroads, at the bottom of the hill by the taxi rank.

Terrain: Steep steps, goat track and roads

Refreshments: Pefkos Blue Hotel: Although not specifically a taverna, this hotel has a bar with an amazing view and it is well worth visiting to take in the panorama of a quiet drink. The bar in this hotel makes a convenient stopping point when returning from the monastery. There is nothing better than a long cool beer overlooking the coast with such a view as is had from here.

Find more information at Griffmonsters Great Rhodes Walks here.

Monastery of Prophet Elias : Sitting above Pefkos, this Chapel is said to date from the 12th century and is dedicated to the Prophet Elias, commonly known as Elijah in latinised form. Such dedicated chapels are traditionally located at the highest points of hills and mountains in Greece. There appears to be several explanations for this although there is no common agreement on the definitive interpretation. Some state that Elias is associated with Helios, the personification of the Sun in Greek mythology or Zeus who was associated with rain, thunder, lighting, and wind, both of whom reside on high. Another idea is that Elias is simply the patron saint of high places. Maybe a better explanation is that, according to the Bible, Elias rode in his chariot of fire to heaven (2 Kings 2:11) and as such his Chapels all sit on the highest point possible.

Sitting alone, high up on the hill, this little chapel is certainly not unused for each year on Maundy Thursday a midnight procession brings the most sacred icons from the church at Lindos, up to the chapel. The Saints day for Elias is on 20th July when a festival of dance and music is held, albeit at the Chapel of St John that is located below the hill, oon the way down to Pefkos.

Monastery of St Ioannis : Located on the road from Lindos, just before it descends down into Pefkos is the chapel dedicated to St John the Baptist, known as Agios Ioannis in Greek. The sign that accompanies this compact chapel declares it to date from 13th century although the MyPefkos website uses a date circa 1600s. The saints day is the 6th January.

Monastery of St Nektarios: St Nektarios is probably a Saint little known to those from Britain. Born in 1846 at Silivria, which is modern day Turkey, he went from poor and humble background to become the Bishop in Cairo before returning to Greece in 1891 where he established Holy Trinity Monastery on the island of Aegina, where from 1908 he lived the rest of his life out as a monk, dying at the age of 72 in 1920.

The Chapel dedicated to this humble man is located in the centre of the village and is the location for the Pefkos Festival of Tastes and TRadtions which is held in September.