 CHURCHES OF MYKONOS
It is said that when the lives of the devout islanders were in danger while they were at sea, their lives would be spared if they vowed to build a chapel upon return to the safety of land. And that is why, the story goes, there are more than 500 churches on Mykonos, most of them small, private chapels attached to or near the homes of the devout fishermen.
A very small number of these churches belong to parishes. Most of the chapels are humble structures and their beauty is in their simplicity. Inside, the faithful have placed their sacred icons with fraternal features of the saints. The interior of these chapels take on a haunting beauty when candles are lighted, making the small spaces very spiritual.
There are a few churches of note and one that is famous world-wide. Of note are the Metropolitan Church of Mykonos in Alefkandra, the nearby Catholic Church with its icons from Venice, and the Church of Ayia Eleni, the largest church in Kastro and once the Metropolitan Church until 1878.
The monastery of Panayia Tourliani, built in the 16th Century, is of great importance and was named after Panayia Tourliani, the patron saint of the island. Each year on the first Saturday of Lent, the icon is brought to the town with great pomp and ceremony for worship, and is returned on Lazarus Saturday, before Palm Sunday.
The most famous church on the island and perhaps the most photographed church in Greece, is Paraportiani. An architectural masterwork, it is a complex of five churches, four of which are on the ground and the fifth on the roof. It is thought that this magnificent structure was built over time during the 16th and 17th centuries, but some speculate that the building began even earlier.
The church of Paraportiani is built above Ayios Evstathios (ask directions) and is reached by an exterior stone staircase on its east side. It is named "Paraportiani" because it is reached by the "side door" of the medieval castle of Mykonos. It is aesthetically, one of the most magnificent structures on the island and is easily the most photographed.
This Guide to Mykonos is written by Aurelia, author of A Lone Red Apple. It's a lovely novel set in Mykonos and Delos and makes a delightful read for your trip to Greece!
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