Holy Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos of PoretsouΙερά Μονή Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου Πορετσού

The Holy Monastery of Poretsou is built at the foothills of Mount Erymanthos, at an altitude of 794 meters. It is dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos, venerated here as Panagia Poretsiōtissa.
Information regarding the foundation of the monastery is limited. Some scholars maintain that it was founded in the 10th century by Saint Loukas, while others associate its establishment with Saint Meletios in the 11th century. According to the founder’s inscription in the katholikon, following a destructive fire the monastery was rebuilt “from the foundations” between 1608 and 1611, through the patronage of the nobleman Spilios Koklonis.
The katholikon belongs to the type of the three-aisled cross-in-square church with a dome. Its interior is entirely covered with wall paintings executed by the renowned Nafplion iconographers Georgios and Dimitrios Moschos. The carved wooden templon is a later addition, probably replacing the original one in the 19th century.
The Monastery played an important role during the Ottoman period as a stronghold of Christianity and during the Greek War of Independence. In 1824–1825, the fighter Asimakis Fotilas found refuge there, while Andreas Zaimis and his father hid for a long period in a cave near the monastery. In 1943, the monastery was looted by the Germans, and several of its treasures were stolen. Although it once housed numerous monks, it gradually fell into decline.
With funding from a European program, restoration works were carried out on the katholikon and the monastic buildings under the supervision of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Achaia, aiming at the monastery’s inclusion in a religious tourism program. However, insufficient maintenance, the passage of time, and harsh environmental conditions caused serious deterioration to the wall paintings of the katholikon, as well as to its roof, requiring urgent intervention.
Within this framework, AIGEAS AMKE undertook the conservation of the wall paintings, icons, and templon of the katholikon, as well as the waterproofing of its roof.

DONATION OF THE NON-PROFIT CIVIL COMPANY AEGEAS

• Repair of the roof of the katholikon.
• Conservation study and conservation of the templon and its icons.
• Conservation of the wall-paintings of the katholikon.
• Replacement of the katholikon’s window frames and repair of its façades.