On August 15, the Dormition of Virgin Mary was celebrated in New Figalia, and in particular at the historic monastery of Panagia Vogalis, which is considered to be the oldest Byzantine monument of Ilia, Peloponnese, built in 957 AD.
This is the Monastery of the Virgin Mary in New Figalia, attended by hundreds of faithful from across the Peloponnese to attend the Divine Liturgy.
The Holy Monastery of the Dormition of Theotokos, or the Monastery of Zourtsa (as it is known in Greece), dates from the last quarter of the 10th century and was probably the catholicon of the monastery.
The monastery was closely linked to the history of Zourcha and, according to tradition, hosted a secret school during the Turkish occupation, and in September 1825 it was burnt down by the army of Ibrahim Pasha.
It is considered to be the oldest Byzantine Monument in the Prefecture of Ilia and one of the oldest in Greece.
