From a ride to Chios. Nea Moni Monastery its popular. Bones are from Chios Massacre, the slaughter of tens of thousands of Greeks on the island by Ottoman troops in 1822



Text from e-xios.gr:

It was founded in the middle of 11th century. Three monks Nicetas, John and Joseph found the holy icon of Virgin Mary in a burning myrtle, without being burned. The emperor Konstantinos Monomachos, as he had promised to the monks, built the Monastery. Both the emperor and his wife, Zoe Porfyrogenniti, showed continually their interest and their love for Nea Moni. The next emperors as well, gave Chrysovoula, special privileges and donations to the Monastery.

The emperor proposed to the monks that they choose any architectural design of temple that existed in Constantinople in order to built Nea Moni, with only exception the temple of God's Wisdom [Hagia Sophia]. Finally the monks chose and the architect built the temple according to the design of the church of Saint Apostles the Small that was in Constantinople, a church that unfortunately does not exist today.

Nea Moni was for many centuries one of the richest monasteries in the Aegean. About 800 monks used to live inside the Monastery or in nearby cells. Nea Moni was famous for the big library and helped economically many schools. And many great teachers have connectedGf the island didn't allow the restoration of the cupola before 1900. Since the middle of the 20th century permanent works of restoration of the buildings and maintainance of unique mosaics are being made.

The holy icons, the mosaics and the architecture help Nea Moni to distinguish between many churches of Byzantine period. Mosaics, with multicolored parts from glass and natural stone adorn the domes, the Holy Step and big departments of the temple.