Showing posts with label Panagia Kardiotissa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Panagia Kardiotissa. Show all posts

Saturday, November 2, 2013

The Village of Agios Thomas

An abandoned home, perched high on a cliff top, overlooking the valley, below.

A few weeks ago, we visited the village of Agios (Saint) Thomas, 
whose beginnings can be traced back to the 14th century, 

A contemporary building in the village, covered in Chinese Lantern vines.

according to a 1371 document, claiming the settlement
 as a feudal property of Petrus de Medio.

The Byzantine Church of Agios Thomas, in the centre of the village.


The village is home to 40 churches,
 some housing wall paintings from the 12th century.



Today, the village has a population of about 800 inhabitants.






 The locals take pride in the history of their village,
striving to maintain its original, architectural beauty.


With the Aegean Sea and the islet of Dia in the hazy distance,


we made our way to the nearby church of
 Panagia Kardiotissa, at the scenic site of Mouzouras,
a short drive from Agios Thomas. 


The altar of this little church dates back to the 7th century,
and some time after 1912, the church was built
 where ruins of the original once stood.



I always feel very peaceful in this pretty, pastoral setting;
a reason I return often, and in different seasons.


All that fresh autumn air soon alerted our appetites!
Not far from the church, at a restaurant that specializes 
in organic fare, we enjoyed a traditional Cretan lunch,
 al fresco, amid rolling hills and dipping valleys.


 Hope you had fun!
Thanks for visiting and
have a wonderful week!

xo
Poppy

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