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The convent of Agios Raphael (Saint Raphael):

It is at the northeastern part of the island and at a distance of 3 km from Thermi. The Monastery was built on the ruins of an early Christian ba silica, the remains of which can be seen in the area:

(wall paintings, red paved floor, the icon of Jesus Christ (14th century) and others).

There are three periods in the Monastery's history:

(a) from the 10th century to 1235, (b) from 1433 to 1463, the year of its second destruction by the Ottomans, when Saint Raphael to whom the convent is dedicated was abbot and (c) from 1962 to this day. It is one of island's most important pilgrimages and contributes to the area's and the island's welfare.

Monastery of Taxiarchis (Archangel Michael) : It is at the suburbs of the small town of Mandamados. It is a Byzantine Monastery that was most probably abandoned in 1462 (the year of the island's occupation by the Ottomans).

The Cathedral was rebuilt in 1879. Among the valuable icons and other ecclesiastical objects, a Byzantine icon in relief is particularly famed: it is the icon of Archangel Michael and according to tradition it was made of clay and the blood of the monks slaughtered when the Monastery was destroyed by the Ottomans.

The Monastery is one of the most significant pilgrimages of the island.

Monastery of Leimonas - Agios Ignatios: It is in the center of the island at a distance of 3 km northwest of the small town of Kalloni. Its Cathedral is dedicated to the Taxiarches (Archangels).

The Archbishop of Mythimna Ignatios Agalianos, who is the saint honoured in the monastery, built it in 1523.During the years of Ottoman occupation it was the only intellectual center of the island.

The Cathedral is an imposing three-aisle basilica, with a fretwork and gold-plated icon-screen and frescos painted in the Byzantine manner ca. 1800. The Monastery has a library,aMuseum of Ecclesiastical Art and a Museum of Geology (1990).

Convent of Panagia Myrsiniotissa ( Virgin Mary ): It is at a distance of 4 km from Kalloni.

It is Byzantine convent, annexed to the Monastery of Leimonas and founded by Ayios Ignatios in 1523, in honour of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Inside the Cathedral the visitor can admire valuable Byzantine icons, an old fretwork icon-screen and significant wall paintings (hagiographies). 

Monastery of Perivoli: It is at the northwest part of the island at a distance of 3 km from the small town of Antissa.

In the Byzantine times it was a convent, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was rebuilt in 1630. Worth noticing are the icons of the fretwork icon-screen and the hagiographies (16th century).

Monastery of Pythario : Northeastern of the small town of Eressos (3 km ). It is dedicated to the Taxiarches (Archangels) and its founding dates back to the medieval times. It is a Byzantine Monastery with a plethora of interesting icons, ecclesiastical objects and hagiographies.

Monastery of Ipsilou: It is built on the top of the rocky mountain Ordymnos, between Antissa and Sigri and dedicated to Ayios Ioannis Theologos (Saint John the Theologian).

The choice of its location is evidence of its medieval origin (in 800AD). The Cathedral has wonderful wall paintings (hagiographies) and precious ecclesiastical objects.

Monastery of Damandrio: Eastern of the small town of Polichnitos. It is a Byzantine Monastery (14th century), dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. In the Cathedral there are wonderful wall paintings of Byzantine art and significant ecclesiastical items.

Area of Mytilene

 Cathedral of Ayios Athanasios: It is in the center of Mytilene. It is a three-aisle cruciform basilica built in the end of the 16th century. It is dedicated to Saint Athanassios and in the church the holy remains of the martyr Saint Theodoros of Byzantium - patron saint of the town - are kept.

The fretwork icon-screen is one of the most impressive works of post-Byzantine art (1738), while the holy icon of Jesus Christ is a wonderful heirloom from Asia Minor (16th century).  

Church of Agios Therapon : It is an imposing building at the area of the port and the biggest church in Mytilene. It was built in 1860 and it is a cruciform Byzantine basilica.

Among its impressive icons, two are of special value, the one is of Christ (14th century) and the other of Ayios Ioannis (Saint John) the Theologian (15th century).

    Church of Agioi Theodori: It is the oldest church of Mytilene, built at the edge of the ancient town. It was built in the Byzantine period and reconstructed after its destruction by a fire in 1759 as a three-aisle basilica
     

Churches in other areas

Church of Taxiarchis (Archangel Gabriel): It is 6 km south of Mytilene, at the village of Kayiani or Taxiarches. It was built in 1903 in a Byzantine cruciform style but with a Gothic dome. The church is full of impressive icons, hagiographies and ecclesiastical objects. It is a significant pilgrimage of the island.

Church of Panayia Agia Sion (Virgin Mary): It is at the small town Ayiassos. The name “Agia Sion” comes from the old icon of the Virgin Mary, painted according to tradition by Saint Luke the Evangelist. In 803 AD -the period of Iconoclasm - the priest-monk Agathon brought it from Jerusalem, also known as “Agia Sion”, to the island.

Agathon founded the monastery that soon became a pilgrimage and the nucleus of the town that formed around it. The present church was built in 1814 at around the time when the Monastery stopped functioning as such.

In the courtyard there is an Ecclesiastical Museum with an interesting collection of manuscripts and valuable ecclesiastical items. It is one of the most significant pilgrimages of the island.

Church of Panayia Glyckofiloussa ( Virgin Mary ): It is at Petra built high up on a rock, with114 steps curved in it that lead to the church.

The location gives one the impression that it was selected for protection against pirate raids common in the post-Byzantine period. The church has a valuable icon-screen and wonderful hagiographies. It is a significant pilgrimage of the island.

Church of Panayia Gorgona (Virgin Mary the Mermaid):

It is at the northwest of Mytilene (48 km), at the picturesque port of Skala Sykameneas, built on a small rock in the sea.

It is called Virgin Mary the Mermaid from an icon that shows Virgin Mary with a mermaid's tail (painted by an unknown folk artist).

Church of Panayia Troulloti: The church is at Ano Pyrgoi Thermis, at the eastern part of the island. It is a cruciform Byzantine basilica with a dome, probably built in the 14th century and one of the oldest Christian monuments on the island that has remained virtually untouched since the Byzantine times.

Ancient materials have been used in the construction - among others two marble bas-reliefs at the southern wall of the narthex (porch) with animal figures (deer and bear) possibly belonging to the nearby ancient temple of the Goddess Artemis Thermias.

The interior has a fretwork icon-screen (18th century), one of the best samples of post-Byzantine ecclesiastical fretwork in Lesvos.

The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is called Troulloti because the dome (troullos) carries the hagiography not of Jesus Christ but of the Virgin Mary.

The church of Ayios Stephanos at Mantamados: It is at the eastern part of the island, near the small town of Mantamados. It is a cruciform basilica, built in the post Byzantine period.

It is very small and was constructed from pink trachyte rock.

Initially it had a dome, which collapsed in the 19th century. The roof has been reconstructed with wooden beams and tiles by the villagers.

At the eastern part of the church there are three small arches.

Another relatively recent construction is the porch. Incorporated in the walls of the church are parts of an older church and a Roman inscription.