Church of Panagia Odigitria

Feast day: September 8

The construction of the church began in 1950, on the site of the homonymous pre-existing church, which was demolished since it could no longer serve the needs of the community. It was completed in 1953. It is a domed cross-in-square church with a wooden gallery (gynaikonitis in Greek). The main entrance (west) has a portico with three arched openings. The windows of the drum of the dome, as well as the rest of the windows (arched and triple-arched) are covered by marble screens with cross-shaped apertures. The two belfries with the small cupolas are located at the south-west and north-west ends. The decoration of the church began in 1985 and today its interior walls are almost entirely covered. 

The western door is flanked by three mosaic depictions: Theotokos in the type of Skepi (in Greek “Holy Protection”); Christ Blessing; and Christ Anapeson (meaning Christ Reclining in Greek). The iconographic type of “Christ Anapeson”, where Christ is depicted as a small child lying in a cradle, symbolises the fulfilment of the Prophecy of verses 9-12 of chapter 49 of Genesis. This iconographic type is inspired by the hymnography of Christ’s Passion of Good Friday and Holy Saturday. It symbolises the Divine Incarnation, which is emphasised by the presence of Virgin Mary and expresses the salvation of humankind, through the sacrifice of Christ. The church houses the 19th-century icon of the Mother of God, which was transferred from the older, homonymous church. The feast day of the church is on the 8th of September.