From the place Firogia, a cobbled path between bushes, leads to Profitis Ilias the High, the highest point of Sifnos (682 m.) The ascent is easy, but long. After the last 500 meters, the outer stone wall of the monastery emerges, as if growing through the rock. The monastery was probably built in the 12th century and had monks until 1890.

In the center of an inner courtyard is the church of Prophet Elias, cruciform with a dome and narthex, as well as an impressive bell tower. Around the courtyard are the cells, a dining room and utility rooms.

On the eve of the feast, the vespers are sung and the bread class follows. At the end dinner is offered in the dining room of the old monastery.

The festivals in Sifnos have a tradition of centuries and are organized on the eve of the day celebrated by a church or a monastery.

They are visited by many people who chant and pray, but also cook, eat, drink and celebrate until late at night in the white courtyards of the churches. The host is the “festival”, Sifnios who has the honor to host the icon of the church in his house for a whole year and returns it on the day of the festival. The festival undertakes all the expenses of the festival and the care of the church.

After the service, the pilgrims sit around the “banks of love” to taste chickpeas, olives, braised with spaghetti, cod in fasting, and to drink a lot of red wine in the health of the festival. The wine is offered in local clay jugs.

The celebrants stay until dawn dancing and singing. The next morning, after the service, the next festival takes the holy image to take home and keep it for a year.