Churches
of Spartia
All the mentioned chapels date from at least the 18th century.
Until the Earthquakes of 1953 in Spartia there were the following churches, chapels and chapels:
Of Panagia (Assumption of the Virgin)
The Temple of the Virgin of Spartia is a special piece of art and its construction could be dated to the 18th century if not earlier. The Templo until the earthquakes of 1953 had wonderful despotic images of the post-Byzantine Cretan Art with strong features of the Byzantine iconography. Unfortunately, almost all of these wonderful icons were destroyed or badly abused during the demolition and rebuilding of the church.
Of Agios Nikolaos in Pernari
According to the tradition, which Ilias Tsitselis mentions, the church of Agios Nikolaos was originally Catholic. This tradition, however, is not based on specific historical evidence. The church, under the same ownership, exists even now, it was rebuilt after the earthquakes, although smaller than the old one.
The iconostasis built at the end of the 19th century before the earthquakes, was not particularly artistic, in contrast to the despotic icons which are old and silver-plated.
Of The Forty Saints
Relatively large church at the SE exit of the village towards the village. With the earthquakes of 1953 it was destroyed and rebuilt. The old iconostasis and despotic icons were saved and are of very good art.
In 1933, due to repairs to the building in which the Spartion Primary School was housed at the time, during the 1933-1934 school year it functioned inside the church of Agioi Saranda.
Of Saint Gerasimos
Large enough church for a chapel on the east side of the village.
During the earthquakes of 1953, it was destroyed, as well as the iconostasis, not of particular value.
The church was rebuilt at the expense of the philo-religious Drakopoulos family, as a request to Saint Gerasimos.
Credit:Aris Minetos
Chapel of the Archangels
or according to the local idiom the "Archangel" in Bonicata, the last neighborhood of Spartia towards Pessada. Bonicata was almost a separate settlement at a relative distance from the main village.
The Archangel in Bonicata was destroyed in the earthquakes and was not rebuilt. Apart from the picturesqueness, it presented no other interest.
Credit:Dillalos
Chapel of "Saint John"
in the place Lionoi, NE of Spartia towards Kerameies. And this was a simple and picturesque little church. It was destroyed in 1953 and never rebuilt.
Of Agioi Theodoroi
On the road from Niochori to Bonicata, i.e. from Spartia to Pessada, but very close to the main village. It was a fairly large but very low building.
It had collapsed due to age before the 1940 war. An attempt to rebuild it was interrupted due to the war, the subsequent events and the earthquakes, and it was finally abandoned.
Saints MENA, VICTOR and VIKENTIOS
or better known as Saint Minas in Niochori, i.e. the first neighborhood at the entrance to the main village. It was destroyed in the earthquakes and
was not rebuilt.
Chapel of the "Manifest"
in Kamari place, in the center of the village. It was destroyed during the earthquakes of 1953 and rebuilt in 1976.
Of Saint Nikolaos
in Kamari, within the same area with Phaneromeni. It was also destroyed by the earthquakes and was rebuilt in 1998.
Chapel of Saint Athanasios
in the lower SE part of the village. It was destroyed in 1953 and rebuilt.
Chapel of Agios Eleftherios
at the "Alonaki" location in the village. It was destroyed in 1953 and never rebuilt.
Chapel of the Archangels or "The Archangel"
almost opposite Agioi Saranda at the SE exit of the village towards the plain and the sea. It was destroyed in 1953 and rebuilt.
Chapel of Saint Andrew
of Saint Andreas (according to the local idiom), located on the main road from Spartia to the glass of Kleimatsia, South-Southwest of the village. It was destroyed by earthquakes and rebuilt.
Chapel of Saint Marina
located West of Spartia towards Klishima. It was destroyed by the earthquakes and was not rebuilt.
Chapel of the Prophet Ilias
or Ai Lias is located approximately 100m from Agios Andreas, on the left of the road towards Kourouklas. It was destroyed in 1953 and rebuilt.
Saint Nikolas
The existence of three churches dedicated to Agios Nikolas is characteristic of the close bond of the inhabitants of Spartia with the sea.
It is also worth mentioning that while the "feast day" of AGIOS NIKOLAOS in Pernari is December 6th, that of Agios Nikolaos in Klimatsia is May 10th, and that of Agios Nikolaos in Kamari was on May 20th.
Credit:Dillalos
The Virgin of "Diotissa"
A little later, in 1821, Agios Panagis (pope-Bassias), being a teacher in a school in Lixouri, refusing to accept the positions of the English conquerors, resigned his position, and stayed in Dia for a limited period of time.
According to the reports of the teacher G. Galanos, the staircase with more than 100 steps, as well as a pier, was built by the priest N. Drakontaidis, who needed to stay for quite a long time to complete his work.
After the earthquakes of 1867, a large part of the church was destroyed, but with the help of Kefallinians of the diaspora, it was restored.
In the midst of history there is a reference in Hesiod about this islet that, on the top of Ainos in Kefalonia, there was a Temple of God Zeus, where traces and many remains of sacrifices were found which were preserved until 1813 AD. When the priests in Ainos sacrificed on the altar of Zeus the sacred carcasses, the smoke rising to the sky, gave the "sign" and the ceremony of a second, almost simultaneous sacrifice began on the islet of Zeus, which is in line of sight with the Great Pile (the highest peak of Aenos) . When the priests saw the second column of smoke they understood that the sacrifice to Zeus was complete. (See Marinatos Spyros, Archaeological Walk).
When one religion replaced the other, and the worship of Zeus and Aphrodite, who were also worshiped on this rock, was displaced to the island, a church dedicated to the Theotokos of Blacherna was built. This church, also known as Panagia tis Diotissa, was also a monastery.
From early in the morning, every July 2nd, small boats and fishing boats run from nearby destinations, such as Pessada, Klimatsias and the port of Agia Pelagia, carrying people who want to attend this special celebration.
After the end of the liturgy, there is baking and procession of the image of the Virgin on the top of the rock island with the amazing view of the endless blue of the Ionian Sea and the constant "companionship" of the seagulls.
In Kefalonia, temples of the Blacherna were in ancient and later Byzantine Pali, Lixouri area, on the islet of Zeus, on Rifi Palikis and in Anninata Pronnon. The old icon from the temple of Blacherna of Palis is today in the monastery of Koronatos, where a vigil is held with the presence of many people.
