In front of Nidri on the island of Lefkada, on the northern end of the Geni peninsula, there is a small white chapel. This is the church of Agia Kyriaki, also known as "The Chapel of the Rock". Each year on the 7th July Nidri becomes the centre of a three day celebration to honor the Martyr to whom the church is dedicated.
This most important religious celebration attracts many pilgrims from all over Greece. It is a great opportunity for visitors and tourists on Lefkada Island to observe and participate in a traditional event of local culture.
Many people take the small ferry crossing from Nidri harbour, over the bay, by local cruise boats or fishing vessels. But the church can also be accessed by driving to Vliho and turning left to Geni. At the end of the road, park and walk the nature path to the church.
And so the story goes...........
Agia Kyriaki was born at the end of the 3rd century AD. Her parents , Dorotheos and Eusebia, had been childless for years. They had asked God to give them a child. Indeed, God pleased this Christian couple. As she was born on the Lord's day, Sunday, they called her Kyriaki (Kyriaki in Greek means Sunday).
According to tradition, she was a girl of rare beauty and grace. Like her parents, she had a strong faith in God, devoting her life to God, making a vow of chastity.
During the persecution of Diocletian all three were arrested and tortured. Dorotheos and Eusebia were first sent far away from their daughter and after beheaded. The young Kyriaki, instead, was referred to Caesar Maximian. From there to the ruler of Bithynia Hilarion. Hilarion tried to tempt her with promises and reminded her that her beauty deserved pleasure rather than torture.
But she responded "Neither in my youth, nor in my beauty, I give the least attention. And the brighter of earthly things are temporary, like the flowers and hollow, like shadows..."
Outraged, Hilarion tortured her harshly and ordered to decapitate her. But before the sword fell, she delivered her spirit praying to the Lord.
Agia Kyriaki Church.
Tradition says that, during the night, sailors who navigated in the area saw a light on the coast. The light came from a cave between the rocks. Here it was very difficult for the sailors to approach.
One day, one of the owners of neighboring land went to see where the light was coming from. In the cave he found an icon of Saint Sunday (Agia Kyriaki). He took it and placed it on his own land, planning to build a small wonder. However, this was impossible as he discovered the image had returned back in the cave of the rock. This was a miracle!!
The cave can be found to the left of the church, accessed by a flight of metal steps.
Nowadays Agia Kyriaki is the Patron Saint of Vliho, a small settlement next to Nidri.
The celebrations for Agia Kyriaki on the 7th July are significant in the Nidri / Vliho areas, lasting over a three day period. During the day there are religious services at the church and festivities in the evening take place in Vliho village and Nidri seafront. There are chairs and makeshift bandstands erected for small bands playing traditional bouzouki and clarinet music late into the evening/early morning.
There is also a three day market set up along the Nidri coast. Various items and street foods are available with of course an amazing waterfront backdrop.
Make the 7th July a diary event to attend each year.
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