Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary-Ecclesiastical Museum

The Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, is at the center of the main port and is the Metropolis of Hydra Island. The inauguration of the Temple was before the 17th century in the name of St. Charalambos and its conversion took place at the beginning of the 17th century. The Temple today is a live art museum, but is also the most importand Chruch of Hydra. The Cathedral is a three domed basilica with a dome and the aisles are divided by rows of columns. The middle row is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, right in Saint Charalambos and left in Saint Nicolaos. The Temple of the Church was constructed by the Architect Gabriel. It is made all of solid white marble with rich and intense decoration (sculptured crosses, exerga, slabs, ionic small columns etc.). In the temple there are also icons with ornate coverings that were gifts to the church by wealthy Hydraian and naval Warriors.The icon of Panagia Faneromeni is located in the old shrine of the Temple, icons of the temple and portable ones such as the Virgin Mary of Maliki. The many relics of the Church are exhibited in the Ecclesiastical Museum that operates within the Monastery. There are four chandeliers, the central one is the work of Kousourelis. The two smaller ones in the central aisle follow the same design style.The most valuable and legendary exafotos (six lights) is located near the beautiful gate and had arrived on Hydra from France or Spain. The outside of the monastery is dominated by the two marble bell towers and its courtyard, an open sculpture gallery, houses the busts of Andreas Miaoulis, Lazaros Kountouriotis, George I and Antonios Lignos (mayor of the island for a number of years), all crafted by the sculptor Dimitris Philippotis.