Visiting Byzantine Build Churches

Today, it seems I’ve started getting a cold, or maybe it’s COVID again, who knows? So, I couldn't go somewhere with a lot of people or to a closed space. I needed to be out in nature and explore places. Near my city is the highest mountain in Greece, the home of the ancient Greek gods. The mountain is a place of infinite beauty with many spots to visit, offering amazing views and interesting landmarks. At the same time, there are many churches scattered across the area, so I decided to explore them.

My first stop was the Church of the Holy Daughter, located in the village of Vrontou. It is built inside a gorge and is accessible by descending 169 stairs. The view while descending is truly awesome. What I found particularly interesting is that the Holy Daughter is not an official saint in the Orthodox Church. However, people consider her a saint, and many visitors come to the church because, as they say, there is a constant flow of holy water, which you can take. In the vicinity, there are many items of clothing and photographs left by people who likely experienced accidents or illnesses, with their loved ones leaving something there, hoping for healing.

The second church I visited is quite close to the Church of the Holy Daughter. It is called the Church of the Holy Trinity. This is an old Byzantine church, built in the 14th century, probably around 1350, as that’s the date of the first hagiographies inside. The church is small but magnificent, and the view is simply breathtaking. If you go down a path nearby, there is a small cave where people can go to pray in silence, meditate, or reflect.

The third church I visited was the Church of the Holy Mary in the village of Kontariotissa. This is also a Byzantine church, built in the 7th century during the time of the iconoclasts. I didn’t take any pictures of this one because there was a christening happening there. Since I didn’t want to intrude, I left, but I will provide you with links where you can view some pictures of the church.