In the eastern end of the cave mouth are two ancient Byzantine chapels. One lies against the cave wall, and is the more ancient, being entirely cut out of the rock, while the other has been added on later. The dome of the second is inscribed with the date 1234 (or 1274). A mural in this chapel representing Michael Akominatos, the last Greek archbishop of Athens before its conquest by the Crusaders in 1205 has been removed to the Byzantine Museum in Athens.
A space under the floor was used as an ossuary, and contained the bones of the hermits or monks who once lived there.
The smaller chapel contains several engravings on the natural wall of the cave, probably made by anchorites . These may be older than either of the churches, and may date from as early as the seventh century.
Image source: Me!
Text source:
www.anagnosis.gr [
anagnosis.gr]
