Fire in Greece: The historic 10th-century Hosios Loukas monastery is burning - See video and photos

The historic monastery of Hosios Loukas in Boeotia is on fire. More specifically, according to TV Star, the fire in its wake completely burned the grounds of the historic monastery.

The first flames broke out inside the Monastery, burning one of the oldest buildings. Fortunately, the monastery was evacuated of visitors and monks in time.

At the same time, the Metropolitan of Thebes of Levadeia and Avlidos, Georgios, is fighting the flames while crying. It is noted that UNESCO protects the monastery while the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, is also at the site.

The monastery of Hosios Loukas is situated at a scenic site on the slopes of Mount Helicon. It was founded in the early 10th century AD by the hermit, Venerable (Greek: Hosios) Luke of Steiris, whose relics are kept in the monastery to this day.

St Luke (not to be confused with the Evangelist author of the Gospel of Saint Luke), was a hermit who died on 7 February 953. He is famous for having predicted the conquest of Crete by Emperor Romanos. It was unclear if he was referring to Romanos I, the emperor at the time.

However the island was actually reconquered by Nicephorus Phocas under Romanos II. It is believed that it was during the latter's reign (959-963) that the monastery's Church of the Theotokos (Panagia) was constructed.

It is one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art, and has been listed on UNESCO's World Heritage Sites since 1990, along with the monasteries of Nea Moni and Daphnion.

READ MORE: Very high risk of fire in three regions of Greece on Thursday.