SKIATHOS
Religion
Religion
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Religion
General
St. Nicholas Church in the Pigadia cemetery, Karpathos, GreecePhoto: Unknown CC 3.0 Unported no changes made
Approx. 98% of the Greek population is members of the Greek Orthodox Church, which arose after the great split in 1054 when the patriarchs from the East no longer recognized the magisterium of the Pope. The Greek Orthodox State Church has been independent from the primacy of the Patriarch of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) since 1833. The Greek Orthodox Church has a number of differences from the Western Christian Churches. Thus, only the Bible, the Church Fathers and the rulings of the Ecumenical Councils serve as the basis of the teaching. Furthermore, the Greek clergy mainly focus on the liturgy and on prayer and meditation. Socially, the Eastern Church is not nearly as active as in the West. However, the government and the church are much more closely linked. The government subsidizes the Church and the Church in turn follows politics closely.
The largest religious minority are the Muslims, the Turkish Greeks. Most Muslims live in Thrace, where many mosques can be found.
The number of Jews has decreased drastically after the Second World War. In 1941, for example, more than 60,000 Jews lived in northern Thessaloniki; nowadays only approx. 1100. The approx. 40,000 Catholics mainly live on the Greek islands.
Monastery of Panagia Evangelistria
This monastery is located approximately five kilometres north of Skiathos Town and is one of the most important religious centres in the Sporades and certainly the most important in Skiathos. Construction of the monastery began in 1794 and it was completed in 1806. Panagia Evangelistria was founded by the monk Nifon from the island of Chios and a monk from Skiathos, Gregorios Hatzistamatis.
During the Greek War of Independence with Turkey in the early 19th century, the monastery played an important role as a refuge for freedom fighters and refugees and financed the rebels. In September 1807, the freedom oath was pronounced in the monastery by later heroes such as Theodoros Kolokotronis and Andreas Miaoulis. It was also here that the first Greek flag was woven and blessed, the flag with the white cross and the blue background.
Holy Monastery of Panagia Kounistra (or Ikonistra)
This post-Byzantine monastery is dedicated to "The Mission of the Mother of God in the Temple" or "Presentation of Mary" and is located just above Troulos in the south-west of the island, 13 km from Skiathos town. The monastery was built in 1655 and sits in the middle of a pine forest, and the story goes that a monk found a moving icon ('kounistra' means 'she who moves') of Mary in a tree and took it with him into the monastery. The icon is now kept in the Cathedral of Skiathos Town. "Presentation of Mary" is celebrated on 21 November and it is an important religious festival for Skiathos. The monastery church is a basilica with one aisle, a dome and an impressive wooden iconostasis. The monastery church had beautiful frescoes on the walls, but these have almost completely faded away.
Monastery of the Assumption of Virgin Mary
This monastery is located east of Mount Karafiltzanak and was built in 1540, restored in 1738 and collapsed in the 19th century. The cruciform central church building has been preserved and still has murals from 1745 and beautiful icons on the iconostasis, a wooden wall that separates the nave of the church from the most sacred part of the church, the altar space, from where all the sacraments are served.
Cathedral of the Four Bishops
This cathedral is interesting because of its architecture, which differs from the classical post-Byzantine Greek churches and monasteries. The special icon of Panagia Kounistra is kept in this cathedral.
Greek mythology
Mythological image on a vase, GreecePhoto: Public domain
The word myth is derived from the word "muthos", which first meant utterance and was later often interpreted as "a spoken or written story".
Mythology (muthologia) is thus "telling stories", or a collection of myths, or the study of myths.
When writing originated in Greece, myths and legends were already anchored in oral traditions, and later poets in particular gave the stories a different course. Greek mythology is very similar to other mythologies. For example, the Norse god Odin corresponds to the Greek Zeus and the Norse heroes often performed the same heroic deeds as their Greek colleagues.
Some Greek Gods:
Aeolus (Aiolos)
A son of Hippotes, who was appointed by Zeus as guardian of the winds. He was in charge of the (wind) gods: Boreas, Zephyros, Notos and Euros.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the foam of the sea, where the main shrine dedicated to Aphrodite is located. She was married to Hephaestus, but preferred Ares for a lover.
Her son was Eros, the god of love. Aphrodite is depicted with the winged Eros and with doves. She was one of the Olympian gods. The Romans called her Venus.
Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, GreecePhoto: Tilemahos Efthimiadis CC 2.0 Generic no changes made
Apollo
Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis. He is god of light, of medicine, music and science. Apollo is often depicted with a lyre in his hand. The main shrine dedicated to Apollo is located in Delphi, the most important oracle site of ancient Greece. Apollo was an Olympic god.
Ares
Ares was a son of Zeus and Hera and is the god of war. He is often depicted in full armor and was an Olympian god. The Romans take him Mars.
Artemis
Artemis was Apollo's twin sister and daughter of Zeus and Leto. She was the goddess of nature and the hunt. She was also the tutelary goddess of pregnant women and is often depicted with a bow in her hand. She was an Olympian god and her Roman name is Diana.
Dionysos
Dionysos was a son of Zeus and god of grapes and wine. He is often depicted with a staff that is wrapped at the top with ivy leaves. He was an Olympian god and his Roman name is Bacchus or Liber.
Dionysos, GreecePhoto: Zde CC 4.0 International no changes made
Eros
Eros is the god of needs and is also called Himeros. Eros is often seen as a winged boy god who shoots men in the heart with love arrows. Roman names for him are Amor and Cupid.
Hermes
Hermes was the messenger of the gods and a son of Zeus. He is also god of travelers, thieves, and merchants. He is always depicted wearing a traveler cap and staff or a helmet with wings. His sandals also have wings. He escorted the ghosts of the dead into the underworld, Hades.
Pallas Athena
She is the daughter of Zeus only, because born from his forehead. She is the patron goddess of the artists and craftsmen, but also the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. In wartime Athena was also worshiped as a war goddess. She was the special guardian goddess of the city of Athens and a guardian angel of Greek heroes such as Heracles and Odysseus.
She is often depicted wearing a helmet and full armor. The owl, which symbolizes wisdom, was devoted to her. Pallas Athena has a sanctuary located in Athens: the Parthenon. She was an Olympian god and her Roman name is Minerva.
Pallas Athena GreecePhoto: Diana Ringo CC 3.0 Austria no changes made
Poseidon
Poseidon is a helm of Zeus and is the god of the sea and guardian god of the sailors. His palace is deep under water and he is often depicted with a trident, with which he can stir the sea. The horse was dedicated to him.
Because the Greeks believed that the land floated on the sea, they also considered him the god who caused the earthquakes. The Roman name is Jupiter.
Zeus
Zeus was the supreme god of the Greeks and the king of gods and men. He was also the god of the sky and the weather. He is often depicted with a lightning in his hand and is seated on a throne. Many demigods and heroes, such as Hercules and Perseus, arose from his love affairs with beautiful women.
Zeus and Thetis, GreecePhoto: Public domain
Sources
Dubin, Marc / Griekse eilanden
Van Reemst
Greek islands
Lonely Planet
Greek islands
Fodor's
De Griekse eilanden
Lannoo
Leistra, Machteld / De Griekse eilanden
Gottmer/Becht
McGilchrist, Nigel / Greece : the Aegean Islands
Somerset Books
Midgette, Anne / Griekse eilanden : Egeïsche Zee
Het Spectrum
CIA - World Factbook
BBC - Country Profiles
Copyright: Team The World of Info