Hermitage of Agios Efthymios

During my hike yesterday I saw the striking window arches from the opposite side. This made me want to hike up to the cave church "Agios Efthimios", high up, below the rising mountain range, like a nest of veins in the rock.
I started at Hotel Idi in Zaros.
Just a hundred meters from the hotel I think I'm in a botanical garden. It blooms in so many different ways along the roadsides, on the side slopes and between the olive trees. I keep stopping and trying to capture the beauty.
With Google Maps it is no problem to find the right one with the many branching paths in the olive groves.
You quickly gain altitude and the view down to Zaros, the many mountains and the valleys leading towards the sea becomes more and more impressive. To my side the mountain rises steeply towards the Idi Mountains and Rouvus Forest.
Now at forks in the road you come across signposts that lead to the former hermitage of Agios Efthimios.
The last olive trees are already under me when I see the new chapel "Aγιος Αντώνιος", St. Anthony, reach out. A nice place to rest in the shade and enjoy the view.
Unfortunately, the accommodation room built next door is dilapidated and the concrete ceiling makes a threatening impression.
Then a sheep pasture begins. The gate, which is hung with a chain, can be opened. But shortly before the destination I fear that I will have to turn back when, between the sheep resting peacefully in the shade of rocks and isolated trees, a threateningly barking, black, free-roaming herding dog came towards me.
But he responded to my loud calls and always kept a respectable distance.
Later, when he was behind me, I noticed that as soon as he wasn't barking, he tried to approach. But when I turned around I immediately went back.
He also had respect for stones. When I threw the first one at him he went back to his sheep.
Then I stood at the end of the path. Only a white cross stands on the bordering rocky ridge. Otherwise there is nothing to be seen that points to the chapel. Only when you stand directly at the rock barrier can you see a path leading down into a hole in the rock. A lattice fence blocks access to the sheep, but there is an opening to the side.
Then, like a miracle, the view opens into the depths.
It's like standing on a balcony. Far below the somewhat strange monastery complex of Agios Nikolaos and the hiking trail to the Rouvas Gorge. Very small, almost unrecognizable, are the hikers.
You enter the walled courtyard through an archway. Two doors lead from here into the rising rock face. Through one you enter the small, beautifully furnished cave chapel.
The other leads into a cave chamber with furnishings. Chairs, a bed and two tables are standing around in disarray.
A small bell hangs in the middle of three window arches in the surrounding wall. With three bright chimes I announce my presence here and thank you for the beautiful journey and this special place.
For the way back I look for paths on the satellite view of Google Maps that take me through olive groves directly to the hotel.
A little above the hotel I come across the ruins of a dilapidated mill.

The path can also be reached at Lake Votomos or
Walking time upwards approx. 1½ hours,
downwards approx. 45 minutes.