The Monastery of San Giovanni Theristis is an ancient monastic complex located in Bivongi, in the Vallata dello Stilaro, Calabria. Founded in the 11th century on the site of an earlier place of worship dedicated to the Itho-Greek monk Saint Giovanni Theristis, the monastery is a significant example of architecture blending Byzantine and Norman elements.
During the Norman period, the monastery became one of the main Basilian centers in southern Italy, known for its rich library and numerous artistic treasures. However, from the 15th century onwards, it began a period of decline, accentuated in the 17th century by acts of banditry that forced the monks to move to Stilo, taking the saint's relics with them.
In the 19th century, following the Napoleonic laws, the monastery was acquired by the municipality of Bivongi and later sold to private individuals. In 1980, it was returned to the municipality and, in the 1990s, restored and entrusted to the Romanian Orthodox Church in Italy. In 2001, Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople visited the monastery, bringing back a relic of Saint Giovanni Theristis.
The building features a Greek cross plan with a central dome supported by four corner pillars. The exterior is characterized by stone and brick walls, with Byzantine-style decorations, while the interior preserves traces of frescoes, including a depiction of the saint. Today, the monastery is an active place of worship and serves as an important spiritual and cultural landmark for the local community.