Agiasos is 26 kilometers from Mytilini on the pine and olive covered slopes of Mount Olympos. It is built amphitheatrically at the eastern slopes of Mount Olympus (968m), at a height of 475 meters from Mytilene. It is surrounded by arable land, olive groves, forests and steep, bike and hiking trail paths.
Agiasos was named after from the inscription on the icon of the Virgin Mary “Μήτηρ Θεού Αγία Σιών” (“Mother of God Saint Sion”) that the monk Agathon brought from Jerusalem at 803 BC after the Byzantine Iconoclasm at the 9th century AD. Agia Sion (Saint Sion) the icon, Agia Sion the monastery. Believers who would go for pilgrimage would say: “Let’s go to Agia Sion” or “Go to AgiaSon” and the causal “Agiason” became also “Agiasos”.
The surroundings of Agiasos are very pretty and very green with lots of different kinds of trees such as platanos, apple, chestnut, pear and cherry trees and a variety of shrubs. In Agiasos there are many shops that sell special pottery an ceramics, carved wooden objects, icons in silver frames, and soap. The church is on the inside one of the most beautiful churches on the island and there are several belltowers in the village. Plenty of tavernas, tall trees, beautiful nature, peace and quiet, nice rocks with houses glued to it, steep streets.
The industrious women of Agiasos still spin and weave. For many years the town was known for its pottery and this tradition is carried on today. There is also a high level of wood-carving. The craftsmen make beautiful carved wooden icons and furniture.
