Holy Monastery of the Prophet Elias (Flamboura)

The Holy Monastery of the Prophet Elias became independent during the days of the holy monk Kallistos in the year 1720, while until then it was a metochi (part) of the Rogoi Monastery.

The Monastery’s contribution to the Christian population in the region was invaluable during the Ottoman occupation, which explains everything it suffered from the Turks. It is said that Muhtar Pasha, son of the Epirus tyrant, Ali, captured the monastery’s abbot, Dionysios I, a virtuous and respected man, and tortured him. During the Greek-Turkish war in 1897, the Monastery was severely damaged. Priest Nikolaos from Rizovouni worked extremely hard for its restoration. However, the final blow was dealt during the German occupation (1943-44). German forces torched the temple because it was a center of resistance in the area. It was a miracle that the famous catholicon and the exquisite sculpted stone iconostasis were rescued.

Under the current leadership of the Archbishop of Nikopolis and Preveza, Meletios, the Monastery was transferred to a new building in the Municipal District of New Sinopi, in Zalongo, near the former community of Flamboura. Twenty-three monks took residence there, most of whom do the Diocese’s spiritual work, led by their abbot, archbishop Ephrem Toumbekis. The Holy Monastery of Prophet Elias is under the direction of the Holy Diocese of Nikopolis and Preveza. At the time, the Monastery does not have a guest house. It is closed on Mondays and Thursdays.