Oinousses
Oinousses was the place of origin of national benefactor Ioannis Diamantis Pateras and the Diamantis family, as well as that of Kalliopi Patera. This Aegean cluster of islands is widely known for its longstanding naval tradition and its leading role in the naval sector worldwide. Still faithful to this role, Oinousses has developed infrastructures that cover all educational levels:
Oinousses School Complex
The expenses for its construction were borne by the offspring of the Diamantis and Kalliopi Pateras family.
Oinousses football field;
a donation by Ioannis Laimos.
Oinousses Model Boarding School
It was exclusively funded by Diamantis and Kalliopi Patera’s offsprings in loving memory of their parents.
Merchant Marine Academy (MMA) of Oinousses
The expenses for its construction were borne by the Federation of Shipping and Education of Oinousses.
What is more, Oinousses is an idyllic holiday destination featuring enchanting beaches, picturesque settlements and many more beautiful sites.
Agios Nikolaos Church of Oinousses
The island’s cathedral. It is dedicated to the protector of seafarers. For more information, click here.
The deep connection with the sea and the contribution of Oinousses to Greek and International Shipping is portrayed on the elegant sculptures one can enjoy on a walk in the premises.
Maritime Museum
It was built in 1991 on Nikolaos Spyros Laimos’s initiative. He was also the one to bear the expenses of its construction.
It has been operating in the current fashion since 1991, allowing visitors to grasp a solid idea of the longstanding naval tradition of this remote island. For more information, click here.
Annunciation of the Theotokos Monastery
It was founded on 25th March 1962 and was inaugurated on 10th August 1965.
The founders of the Monastery were the children of the Diamantis I. Pateras and Dimitrios A. Laimos families (husband and wife, respectively), both originating from Oinousses. For more information, click here.

Its construction began in 1924 and was completed in 1952, when the bell tower was built.

Valuable natural resources of the island were used for its construction. Its marbles were brought all the way from “Marmaro”, a cove in the east of Oinousses, where – as the story goes – there used to be an ancient temple.

The interior of the Monastery was the work of icon painters, whereas the icons were votive offerings from seafarers or the families of shipowners.

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Visitors can get a clear view of the longstanding naval tradition of this remote island.

Important folk painter Aristeidis Glykas’s 22 paintings are exhibited in the main gallery.

The exhibition also includes steamship models from the early 19th century, as well as other impressive sailing nautical items, such as, the Lighthouse of 1864, sextants, marine binoculars, etc.

In Antonios Laimos Room, one can admire a rare collection of valuable models of French prisoners of the Napoleonic Wars.

These ivory models (ebony, animal horns) were made by French prisoners in English prisons.

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Diamantis I. Pateras's son decesead father Xenofon, widely known as Panagos, jointed the seafaring profession, after having graduated from high school. He first went on board as a sailor, until he eventually became captain.

Panagos served as a captain until 1939. During World War II, and more specifically on 3rd October 1939, the steamboat Diamantis – of which Panagos was the captain – was torpedoed by the German Navy, but was miraculously saved along with the entire crew.

Deceased nun Maria Myrtidiotissa was the first Mother Superior of the Monastery. She was Dimitrios A. Laimos’s daughter and had been Panagos Pateras’s wife since 1931.

The iconography of the Katholikon of the Monastery was the work of deceased iconographer Photis Kontoglou.

Since its foundation, the Monastery has been using the Old Calendar, as well as St. Savas’s Typikon. Its celebrations take place twice a year: on 25th March (Annunciation of the Theotokos) and on 15th August (Dormition of the Theotokos).

The nuns occupy themselves doing several deeds for the Monastery, such as: iconography, icon golden embroideries, knitting and hand-sewing of religious vestments.

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