Panagia Kakaviotissa the church without a roof

Panagia Kakaviotissa chapel is situated on the top of Mount Kakavos in Limnos, inside a rock cavity at an altitude of 260 meters. Founded in 1416 by monks fleeing from Agios Efstratios to escape Turkish invasions, Panagia Kakaviotissa became a sanctuary under the protection of Megisti Lavra of Mount Athos. This history underscores its role as a refuge and a place of worship amidst turbulent times.

The rough terrain of Kakavos has been a site of asceticism since the early 14th century, when monks from Agios Efstratios, who belonged to the Athonite Monastery of Megisti Lavra, sought refuge there.

In the small chapel founded in an inaccessible spot of Kakavos, within a recess formed by the rocks, monks who lived as hermits in the nearby caves conducted services.

According to local tradition, the last of these monks eventually decided to leave Lemnos and move to Mount Athos.

Before his departure, he entrusted the icon of the Virgin Mary to a local farmer from the Mumtzi family, originally from the nearby village of Kontias.

The last hermit of Kakavos, before setting off to sea using his robe as a boat, asked the Lemnian farmer to take the icon to the chapel every year on the Tuesday after Easter (Bright Tuesday).

The chapel of Panagia Kakaviotissa holds a service and celebrates every Bright Tuesday (the Tuesday of Easter or Renewal Week).