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PANAGIA EPISKOPI FEAST DAY

Santorini Churches : Panagia Episkopi Church
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Located in the village of Episkopi Gonia (also known as Mesa Gonia) is the beautiful Byzantine church of Panagia Episkopi. The church is considered the best example of traditional ecclesiastical architecture of the island by Mathaios Mendrinos, author of the booklet "The Church of Episkopi in Santorini" which is distributed by the Ecclesiastical Committee of the church ...

Panagia Episkopi was built in the late 11th Century by Emperor Alexios A’ Kominos. The church is an important Byzantine monument. It houses the icon of Panagia Glikofilousa, one of the third most priceless portable icons in the world.



The Castastrophe of the 1915 Fire


Mendrinos, who is a member of the G.P.P. Academy of Rome, writes about the church:

" To every Greek, either coming as a simple visitor or as a faithful to pray, this church, inspires both a strong national and religious feeling. A great number of the treasures of the church such as liturgical and ecclesiastical books, priests vestments and holy vessels were

Panagia Episkopi Church Episkopi Gonia
Photo : Klearchos Kapoutsis
destroyed by the 1915 fire. Only icons had come out safe from the catastrophe. It is said that a hand covered them by the fire and protected them from being burned. It must have been the invisible hand of the Virgin Mary."

The Church Survived Invasions & Earthquakes


The church has survived the invasions of Venetians, Francs, Russians and Turks and still remains as an inspiration to the islanders. Panagia Episkopi was built in 1115, but had to withstand not only invasions and fires, but the tremendous earthquake of 1956. Any damages incurred by all these elements were quickly repaired by the faithful. The church is not only known for its ecclesiastical architecture. It is also admired for its remarkable Byzantine paintings and hagiography. A number of important icons can be seen in the church, although it bears to mention that 26 of the finest works were stolen in 1982 and never to be found.




 
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