Posts in category: Ο Πρόδρομος 1- Διονυσίου

In the 16th century, the Wallachian prince Neagoe Basarab presented the monastery with a gold reliquary which contained the right hand and cranium of St John the Baptist. In 1765, the fathers sent the sacred cranium to their dependency on the island of Agios Eustratios to bless the fields of the islanders, which were plagued by destructive grasshoppers. On the way, however, the relic was stolen by pirates; fortunately, it was later found in the Umayyad mosque in Damascus, where it is still preserved in a special structure today. After this incident, it was decided to never remove the remaining relic of the Baptist's right hand from the monastery.

The cathedral of the monastery is dedicated to the Baptist and celebrates his birthday. One encounters Saint John's image there many times, both depicted on the walls and in the shrines. The most compelling experience of the pilgrim, however, is the encounter with the sacred relics of the Baptist, which are kept together with the rest of the holy relics as precious treasures in the Sanctuary in special vaults. A hieromonk is charged with their care, and they are usually presented for veneration by pilgrims during the service after dinner.