The Church of Saint John the Theologian (Central)

The construction of the church of “Agios Ioannis Theologos” (Saint John the Theologian) started in 1920 with the expenses paid by the –then very few –inhabitants of the village. Whatever each of them could gather from the little that he had, he offered it so as to slowly build the church existing today in the community.

Back then it was constructed in the east, at the edge of the old village and next to the traditional little houses. Today the village has expanded with new residences and the church is located in their midst. It was completed in 1946.

Architecturally it is structured in the shape of a cross with a dome and internally it has three aisles. Externally it is made of local stone. During that time they had whitened it externally with “sprits” but in 1992 it was maintained and the whitewashing was scraped, leaving the stone in its natural state. The external columns of the church are made of huge, bulky stones. Two steeples emerge at the west of the church, one to its right and one to its left. The church's comfortable yard is paved with flagstones. It is a large church and it can accommodate around 500 faithful. Inside the church is whitewashed. With donations by the inhabitants the hagiography depicting “Panagia Platytera” was recently painted in the church above the chancel. The icon screen, which was recently replaced, is woodcut; huge amounts of money were spent by the Church for its construction. The icons in the icon screen are very old and priceless. The Psalters of the church have been recently replaced and they are also woodcut.

The church of Saint John the Theologian has a tremendously large women's loft of a semi-circular shape and an amphitheater-like character with a comfortable view for the faithful. It celebrates on the 26 th of September in a festive manner, the Holy Icon of Saint John the Theologian being carried about in procession.

The “Agios Nikolaos” Church

The “Agios Nikolaos” (Saint Nicholas) church is located at the center of the old village. It started being built in the middle of the 17 th century (1760) and it was completed around 1776.

Architecturally it is constructed in the Byzantine style and covered with tiles. It is a tiny little church that can barely seat 50 believers. The yard is small and limited, its one side being adjacent to the road. The church is made with local stone. An added, wooden steeple emerges east of the church.

Internally its icon screen is quite old and well preserved, completed by the Holy Icons. There are no Psalters but only two lecterns. It has a very small women's loft since the whole structure of the church itself is quite small.

The church was maintained both internally and externally in 1998, the expenses paid by the Antiquities Department. Saint Nikolaos is celebrated on the 6 th of December. Liturgies takes place normally in the church from the Saint's Day until the “Saturday of Lazarus”. Afterwards the liturgies take place in the central church of Saint John the Theologian.

The “Panagia Faneromeni” Chapel

Taking the road towards the Pera Pedi village, somewhere on our right at the entrance of the village we will come across the little chapel of “Panagia Faneromeni” (The “Revealed” Blessed Virgin Mary). It was constructed around the 19 th century. A vast vineyard spreads behind the country church. The church has the shape of a rectangular structure, the roof being of a semi-circular character and covered with tiles.

It is quite a small and plain chapel, barely managing to accommodate 30 faithful. In its interior you will admire the austerity it possesses. The icon screen with its old Holy Icons is simple and poor. It is a flat little church with few seats for the faithful. Because the very old icon of Saint Panteleimonas is located there in the chapel, a festive ceremony takes place on the 27 th of July –the Saint's day.

In essence, liturgies take place in it three times a year.

The community celebrates “Panagia Faneromeni” with the people gathering here on the 8 th of September, the day that the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated.

This old, little chapel is located north of the village, in a piece of land belonging to the known wine-industry of the KEO company. It is a small, plain chapel and for the KEO company the Holy Cross is their “patron” and “mentor”. About 20 years ago there was a fire in the chapel. The fire caused a lot of damage, the repair of which was assumed by the known company. What is strange though is that the Cross and the icon of Christ were not damaged by the fire/

It is whitewashed externally and a small, arched steeple emerges from the side of the little church. It is a flat and tidy little church. The church's shape is rectangular and has a tiled roof above. Everything is renovated inside and the woodcut icon screen is of a recent making. The only thing that remained is the stone-made High Altar.

Inside the roof, you will notice the traditional structure with the thick, wooden beams.

Liturgies take place in it twice a year -on the 6 th of August and the 14 th of September. These days are celebrated festively and the known wine-industry hold a rich banquet for the worshipers.