The monastery was probably founded in the 6th century, during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian, and was dedicated to the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, early Christians who died for their faith. Its basilica was the largest of its kind in the region, with crypts and underground chapels beneath. In the Middle Ages the name Agioi Saranta, “Forty Saints”, passed to the nearby coastal town of Onchesmos, which eventually became Sarandë.
The site suffered repeated destruction over the centuries. It was badly damaged during the Second World War, demolished during the communist era and later used as a military base until 1997. Archaeologists have since cleared much of the rubble, revealing the crypts, where traces of early wall paintings survive, and conservation work has followed.
Visitors come for the atmosphere and the views: from the hilltop you can look out over Sarandë, the bay and across the water to Corfu. It makes a rewarding short excursion from the town, especially towards sunset.
