While pottering around Kassiopi, we came across this lovely little church. I love Greek Orthodox Churches, they are so emotional, complex and lovely, compared to the more utilitarian churches that i have seen elsewhere. If Churches are supposed to be houses of God, then by heck, lets make it look like a House, eh? not a showroom. Anyway.
Pretty imposing entrance, eh? 
You walk down this beautiful passageway, with wide steps, cobbled. 
The roof is made up of this creeper kind of structure. Lovely. 
And it has to have a cat, sunning itself, lol
With a lovely graveyard. 
The gate was locked but I peeped over to take a shot. 
Then move left and down to the main door of the church. 
A plaque hung on the wall. It says
“this temple, dedicated to the Holy and Glorious Virgin Mary, was destroyed from the barbaric Turkish Pirates. Further to was reconstructed by Peter Francis Malipetro, Commander of the Triremes and then was expanded by Philippe Pascalino, Commanded of the Adriatic Gulf, in the end it was expanded even more in the year 1590 by Nikolao Surino of the Venetian Fleet, who did that on account of the great devotedness.”
So the church goes back at least 600 years. Wow, amazing. And they dont like the Turks, eh? 
A photo of the Virgin up on the arch. 
Some flags up on the string. I couldnt make up what was on the flag. 
A table top photo of the Virgin and Baby Jesus. This looks quite expensive and its been left outside? 
Intricate work…
And then this altar like structure made out of brass. I think. 
A sign on the unit but dont know what it says…
A gravestone in the corner. Again, dont know what it says…
The church was closed so was not able to go inside, but there you go. 
Walking back outside. 
A prickly pear plant. 
A lovely window
And a clock. I dont think its showing the right time, lol. 
A plaque embedded in the wall. Looks like its written in Latin. Sames something like this is a temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary which was devastated by pirates and then people fixed it up. I guess this is the Latin which is translated above. 
The Church of the Panayia Kassopitra. Apparently, this church was built on top of the ruins of a Roman Temple dedicated to Jupiter and Emperor Nero visited this place once. 
Interestingly enough, the Venetians, who made the church, were Roman Catholics, of course. But over the years and when they left, the Church is now Greek Orthodox. 
Another interesting story, apparently a blind man (who was deliberately blinded because he was a robber) regained his sight after his mother prayed for him in this church. This was on 8th of May, 1530, before the Turks destroyed the Church. And since then, 8th of May is a local holiday in Kassiopi. The name Kassiopi may come from Cassia, an ancient Roman patrician name. It could also relate to the mother of Andromeda whose name was Cassiopiea. But nobody could tell me nor was the internet any help. Anyway..
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