Churches, chapels and monasteries are spread all over Paros and are one of the main characteristics of the Parian scenery. They were mainly built in the 16th and 17th centuries when the church of Paros was at its height. Before the fall of Constantinople there were, apart from the church of Ekatondapiliani, other churches in Paros, from those of which have survived Agios Georgios Thalassitis in Pisso Livadi (13th century),
Evangelismos of Theotokos in Marpissa (1410) and Theoskepasti at Protoria in Naoussa. The Parian churches have wonderful frescoes, valuable icons and are of important historical and architectural interest. The monasteries, places of faith, but also important intellectual centres are part of the history of the island. Built in beautiful isolated places, from outside, they look like fortresses. During the time of the Turkish Empire there were about thirty-five monasteries in use in Paros. Nowadays there are only five in use.The Monastery of Longovarda on the road from Parikia to Naoussa (a male community) is well known for its intellectual contribution to the island society and for the help it offered to the island's inhabitants during the German occupation.
It's contributions still continue and the monastery recently gave a piece of land of 1200 sq. metres to the "Society of Care and Protection of Wild Animals" "Alkioni" which is open twenty four hours of the day and is run by volunteers. The Monasteries of Thapsana, south of Elitas, Agios Arsenios or Christ of the Forest, south of Parikia, which houses the tomb of Agios Arsenios, Patron Saint of the island, Taxiarches, north of Parikia and Agii Theodori, east of Angeria, are also still in use.