The cells of Nuns at Giouchtas (Kelia Kalogradon)
Many believed that somewhere in Jiouktas Mountain lived once the Apostle Paul. Indeed, within walking distance from the church of Christ at Giouchtas there are the remains of a very interesting building that is connected to the hermitage of Saint Paul. This building has three floors and is built on a rough and non-visible site of a very steep cliff, almost below the church. The lower level consists of a cave that is believed to have served as a temple.
Unfortunately the building has suffered great damage from time and it is in danger of collapsing. It is believed that the building was originally the cells for the Catholic nuns of the Monastery of Christ, one can still distinguish the steep trail leading to the church of Christ. It later served as an Orthodox monastery, while during the great revolution of 1866 the Turks killed the blind monk Kyriakos, who lived here.
The cells can be accessed by the steep downhill trail starting next to the church of Afendis Christos. Moreover, by car you can go around Jiouktas, “targeting” the white chapel of Christ, and the cells are just beneath and slightly north of it. You can leave the car at the nearest place and approach carefully.
