According to the legend, the monastery was raided by Saracen pirates who slaughtered the monks with the exception of one young novitiate monk who managed to hide in the roof of the church. From there, after the carnage, he saw the figure of Archangel (Taxiarchis) Michail fluttering above the dead bodies of the monks. He took wax and soil that was steeped in their blood and he shaped them to the form of the Archangel the way he had seen it. The church celebrates the Sunday of the myrrh-bearing women two weeks after Resurrection, with a great religious and commercial feast accompanied by the preparation of kisket, a traditional dish offered customarily to the pilgrims. A great percentage of the pilgrims come to the Agios on foot from kilometres away on the eve of the feast while some come riding, on their horses adorned to honour Taxiarchis.