Thari Monastery

The old monastery of the Archangel Michael was built over 1000 years ago. The current buildings, however, date from the 14th and 16th centuries. There are interesting frescoes from the 16th and 17th centuries in the monastery church. Since 1989 the monastery has been inhabited by monks again. The monastery owes its name to a story about a terminally ill Byzantine princess who came to Rhodes in the 7th century to die in peace there. Archangel Michael is said to have appeared there to her and said "Echis tharri", which means something like "Have courage, you will get well". The princess actually got well. Her father had the monastery of the same name built on the spot where it happened out of gratitude.

Before you enter the monastery complex, you will be warmly greeted by a monk and pointed out that women are only allowed to enter the monastery with their shoulders and backs covered and men with long trousers.

Originally a Byzantine monastery, it is dedicated to Saint Michael, the most famous of the archangels. The monastery was built in the 12th century, but on the foundations of a much older church. Most of the buildings standing here today date from the 14th to 16th centuries.