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The abandoned Monastery of Agios Ioannis (Saint John) is located southwest of Lefkes village, at the foot of Mount Aghii Pantes (or Profitis Elias). The monastery is nestled within lovely gardens of fruit trees, just two kilometers from the main road. The small, domed indigo-coloured temple, situated in its enchanting location, is gorgeous.
On the eve of the 29th of August, the name day of Agios Ioannis (Saint John the Baptist), service takes place at the monastery of Kaparos, with vespers praising the Saint, the only light being that of candles and creating a unique atmosphere. The entire village of Lefkes gathers there to honor the saint and to celebrate. All residents as well as numerous visitors participate with religious solemnity to the festivals of Paros, attending vespers and, following the divine liturgy, contribute in their own way to the feast. Some bring the traditional alcoholic beverage, souma, or wine while others bring pies, revithada, or other delicacies they have prepared before at home and the festival culminates with feasting, dancing and singing that goes on for many hours.
The most famous Parian dishes are the kakavia, gouna (salted sun-dried fish), salatouri, kolokythokeftedes, tomatokeftedes, chickpeas in the oven, ambelofassoula, fava, karavoli, kalfa with skordalia. The cheeses are also exceptional. Xinomizithra, ladotiri, brine cheese, touloumisio and mizithra, combined with paximadi, and kritharokouloures. Housewives make spoon sweet, rafiolia, mizithropitakia, lambrokouloura, lazarakia, petimezenia (cookies using petimezi instead of sugar) and skaltsounia as well as the traditional alcoholic beverage souma.
Photo: Stavros Niflis
