A church that dates back to medieval times and that endured more than one attack by the Turks is the Church of Saint George. The large cemetery that surrounds the small church points to its role as the cemetery now used for the burial of the residents of Gavalochori. This church is usually left open, so it provides a great opportunity to see the inside of a Greek Orthodox church.
From the main square of Gavalochori, follow the signs that lead you up the hill to the Venetian Wells. Once at the wells, walk up the road a short distance to where it intersects with a graveyard. The church adjacent to the graveyard is the Church of Saint George.
The Church of Saint George probably served as a monastery for monks in the middle of the 17th century, and some of them were from Gavalochori. When the Turks discovered that the area of Gavalochori was supplying rebels to fight against them, they burned down this monastery as well as others and sent the monks fleeing to what is now the Church of Saints Peter and Paul.
The Church of Saint George suffered again at the hands of the Turks in 1866, when villagers battled the Turkish army in Gavalochori. The Turks burned down and looted many houses and other buildings, including the Church of Saint George. They shot at the icons of the church, and for many years, bullet holes and sword slashes could still be seen in them, although the icons have since been repaired or replaced.
In 1887, the church was rebuilt, and the cells of monks that surrounded the church and that had been severely damaged were repaired; unfortunately, these are no longer visible. New doors and windows were installed, and a new stone wall was also erected. Other renovations occurred in 1950, when the current bell of the church was purchased and installed by a Gavalochori resident who had moved to America. In 1960, the church underwent a major renovation with new iron doors, new windows, and a new altar.
Saint George (Agios Georgios, Άγιος Γεώργιος), for whom the church is named, was born to Greek Christian parents in the 4th century AD. He joined the Roman army and distinguished himself as a courageous commander of many troops. Because of his courage in battle, he came to the attention of the emperor Diocletian and was promoted to serve in his imperial guard. When Saint George learned that Diocletian was planning to persecute Christians, he met with the emperor and denounced him and his decision. Diocletian was stunned by the bold speech of the warrior he had loved and promoted and tried to persuade him to renounce Christianity, but Saint George refused. He survived several attempts by Diocletian to kill him—he was placed on a wheel and the wheel turned so that he was pierced all over his body, he was put in a pit and covered with lime, he was put in iron shoes with hot nails, and he was whipped and poisoned. When Saint George was asked how he was able to survive all of this torture, he said that Jesus had saved him. He was then beheaded and his body returned for burial to Lydda in what is now Palestine, the homeland of his mother.
Saint George is often seen in icons slaying a dragon. Tradition tells the story of a fierce dragon that was causing panic in the city of Silene, Libya, when Saint George arrived there. To appease the dragon, the residents sacrificed sheep and later even humans to it. When Saint George arrived in the city, the king’s daughter was about to be sacrificed, and he saved the girl by killing the dragon with a lance. The king was so grateful that he offered him treasures as a reward for saving his daughter’s life; Saint George accepted them and gave them to the poor. The people of the city were so amazed at what they had witnessed that they converted to Christianity.
Saint George is the patron saint of the Greek army because he was a military officer, and he is the patron saint of soldiers everywhere. Because he is also associated with agriculture, Saint George is celebrated twice a year. One of his name or feast days is on April 23, a key day for sowing crops by farmers in Greece (when April 23 falls within Lent, however, the celebration of Saint George is moved to immediately after Easter).
Saint George has another name or feast day on November 3, the day his remains were transferred to the church in Lydda. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the villagers of Gavalochori celebrated this day under the plane trees at the Venetian Wells. November 3 is the day when the wine barrels were traditionally opened and the wine the villagers had made was ready to be tasted. Because it is also the feast day of Saint George, he was sometimes called Saint George the Methistis (who makes people drunk). In Gavalochori, the villagers threw the first carafe of their new wine into one of the Venetian wells on this day. Many of these carafes have been excavated and are now on display in the Folklore Museum. Religious services are celebrated the evening before and the morning of November 3 in this church. The evening service begins at about 7:00 and the morning service at about 7:30.
A church that dates back to medieval times and that endured more than one attack by the Turks is the Church of Saint George. The large cemetery that surrounds the small church points to its role as the cemetery now used for the burial of the residents of Gavalochori. This church is usually left open, so it provides a great opportunity to see the inside of a Greek Orthodox church.
From the main square of Gavalochori, follow the signs that lead you up the hill to the Venetian Wells. Once at the wells, walk up the road a short distance to where it intersects with a graveyard. The church adjacent to the graveyard is the Church of Saint George.
The Church of Saint George probably served as a monastery for monks in the middle of the 17th century, and some of them were from Gavalochori. When the Turks discovered that the area of Gavalochori was supplying rebels to fight against them, they burned down this monastery as well as others and sent the monks fleeing to what is now the Church of Saints Peter and Paul.
The Church of Saint George suffered again at the hands of the Turks in 1866, when villagers battled the Turkish army in Gavalochori. The Turks burned down and looted many houses and other buildings, including the Church of Saint George. They shot at the icons of the church, and for many years, bullet holes and sword slashes could still be seen in them, although the icons have since been repaired or replaced.
In 1887, the church was rebuilt, and the cells of monks that surrounded the church and that had been severely damaged were repaired; unfortunately, these are no longer visible. New doors and windows were installed, and a new stone wall was also erected. Other renovations occurred in 1950, when the current bell of the church was purchased and installed by a Gavalochori resident who had moved to America. In 1960, the church underwent a major renovation with new iron doors, new windows, and a new altar.
Saint George (Agios Georgios, Άγιος Γεώργιος), for whom the church is named, was born to Greek Christian parents in the 4th century AD. He joined the Roman army and distinguished himself as a courageous commander of many troops. Because of his courage in battle, he came to the attention of the emperor Diocletian and was promoted to serve in his imperial guard. When Saint George learned that Diocletian was planning to persecute Christians, he met with the emperor and denounced him and his decision. Diocletian was stunned by the bold speech of the warrior he had loved and promoted and tried to persuade him to renounce Christianity, but Saint George refused. He survived several attempts by Diocletian to kill him—he was placed on a wheel and the wheel turned so that he was pierced all over his body, he was put in a pit and covered with lime, he was put in iron shoes with hot nails, and he was whipped and poisoned. When Saint George was asked how he was able to survive all of this torture, he said that Jesus had saved him. He was then beheaded and his body returned for burial to Lydda in what is now Palestine, the homeland of his mother.
Saint George is often seen in icons slaying a dragon. Tradition tells the story of a fierce dragon that was causing panic in the city of Silene, Libya, when Saint George arrived there. To appease the dragon, the residents sacrificed sheep and later even humans to it. When Saint George arrived in the city, the king’s daughter was about to be sacrificed, and he saved the girl by killing the dragon with a lance. The king was so grateful that he offered him treasures as a reward for saving his daughter’s life; Saint George accepted them and gave them to the poor. The people of the city were so amazed at what they had witnessed that they converted to Christianity.
Saint George is the patron saint of the Greek army because he was a military officer, and he is the patron saint of soldiers everywhere. Because he is also associated with agriculture, Saint George is celebrated twice a year. One of his name or feast days is on April 23, a key day for sowing crops by farmers in Greece (when April 23 falls within Lent, however, the celebration of Saint George is moved to immediately after Easter).
Saint George has another name or feast day on November 3, the day his remains were transferred to the church in Lydda. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the villagers of Gavalochori celebrated this day under the plane trees at the Venetian Wells. November 3 is the day when the wine barrels were traditionally opened and the wine the villagers had made was ready to be tasted. Because it is also the feast day of Saint George, he was sometimes called Saint George the Methistis (who makes people drunk). In Gavalochori, the villagers threw the first carafe of their new wine into one of the Venetian wells on this day. Many of these carafes have been excavated and are now on display in the Folklore Museum. Religious services are celebrated the evening before and the morning of November 3 in this church. The evening service begins at about 7:00 and the morning service at about 7:30.
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