Churches on Paxos

Almost 98 per cent of the Greek people belong to the Greek Orthadox church, the remainder being either Roman Catholic, Jewish or a few Muslims. Orthodox, meaning 'right belief', was founded in the 4th century by Constantine the Great, who was converted to Christianity by a vision of the cross.

Religion is still integral to life on Paxos and the year is centred on the festivals of the church calendar. Most Paxiots will go to church when they have a problem, and light a candle to the saint they think is most likely to help them.

Many of the churches dotted around Paxos have been built by individual families, in the name of the patron saint, as a thanksgiving for God's protection.

Most of the churches on Paxos date back to Venetian times, although the oldest churches on the island, Agia Marina and Agios Stefanos, now in ruins, date back to the 6th century AD. These two churches are in Ozias, itself the oldest settlement on the island.
One of the most unusual churches is that of Ipapanti (also spelt Ypapanti), just outside the village of Grammatikeika, near Lakka. It has two flattened domes and a beautiful bell tower.
The church of Agii Apostoli in Boikatika, near Magazia, is strikingly sited, with wonderful views of the Erimitis Cliffs from its churchyard. In the same village, the church of Ag. Charalambos is noted for an ancient icon of the Virgin.
The church of Estavromenos in Fonata dates from the 15th century, but was partly restored in 1859.
The church of Zoodochos Pigi (the Source of Life) at Loggos has beautiful wall frescoes dating from at least 1739.

In addition to the many churches, there are numerous chapels dotted around Paaxos - simple, whitewashed buildings, only opened once a year on the name day of the saint to whom they are dedicated.