With an integrated fire safety system, the monastic complex of the New Monastery of Chiu, a monument registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1990, aims to prevent, protect, and provide early warning in the event of danger.

Specifically, the overall project, with a budget of 1,700,000 euros, is funded by the Ministry of Culture with resources from the Recovery Fund, the Public Investment Programme of the Ministry of Culture and the NSRF and includes a integrated plan for prevention, protection and early warning for the surrounding area and buildings of the Nea Moni, with interventions that respond to the specific needs of the historic monument: The Katholikon, the altar, the churches of the Holy Cross and St. Panteleimon, the museum, the chapel, the outpost and the archontory.

Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni, said: “The New Monastery was founded in the mid-11th century, with imperial sponsorship, and is an extremely important historical and cultural monument of universal value, a landmark for the island of Chios. Aiming at the protection and promotion of the monastic complex, the Ministry of Culture, through its competent services, implements a structured program of restoration and maintenance of the individual buildings and the surrounding area, ensuring the viability of the monastery and making it fully accessible to visitors. Work is currently underway on the restoration of the Defence Tower and the Fortification Enclosure, which are key elements of the monastery fortification.

The main work on the construction of the fortress is currently underway.

At the same time, the restoration of the South Wing of the cells is proceeding, to highlight the monumental complex as a whole, while the restoration of the floors of the Katholikon, which was inaugurated in 1049 and illustrated with a mosaic decoration of unique art, has been completed. The fire safety work complements the integrated protection plan of the monument, ensuring the protection of the monument, the monks and visitors, without disturbing the historical and architectural environment.”

The fire safety project includes the installation of a permanent water supply system, fire lights, fire extinguishers, and an early warning and fire detection system. At the same time, an evacuation plan for the monument in case of danger is drawn up, and escape routes are marked for the visited areas.

The New Monastery of Chios follows the Byzantine monastic layout with a Katholikon, a refectory, cells, and a defensive tower. In the millennium of its existence, the monastery has been tested many times, such as by the massacres of 1822 and the earthquake of 1881.

From the original complex, the Katholikon, the cistern, the tower, part of the bank, and the church of St. Luke are preserved. The monastery was a male monastery until 1946; it was converted into a female monastery in 1950, and since 2014, it has been functioning as a male monastery again.