Church of Saint Paul

Εκκλησία Αγίου Παύλου - Ekklisia Agiou Pavlou

1.1 kilometers from main square

Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Gavalochori.  Foundation for Gavalochori- Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Agios Pavlos, Gavalochori
Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Gavalochori. Foundation for Gavalochori
Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Gavalochori.  Foundation for Gavalochori- Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Agios Pavlos, Gavalochori
Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Gavalochori. Foundation for Gavalochori
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Situated in the village of Agios Pavlos, part of the municipality of Gavalochori, the Church of Saint Paul is the most distinctive church in the village. The stone of which it is made is visible and not covered with plaster, and it has almost a trapezoidal or pyramid shape, with two stone flanks on each side that almost seem to be propping it up. The large, well-tended courtyard contains very old carob and oak trees, and you can see an old cistern that was used to supply water to the church. This is a church that is typically not open, so you’ll be able to see inside only if a service or ceremony is taking place in it.

One way to think of this church is as a church of refugees. When the Turks destroyed the monastery of Saint George in the late 17th century, the monks from that monastery settled in the monastery that became this church. Some monks continued to live on this site through the early 19th century. 

To find the Church of Saint Paul, start from the main square in Gavalochori and follow the signs to Vamos (Βάμος). After curving around the village to the right and passing both the old well and the village trash station, keep going down the road to the village of Agios Pavlos (Άγιος Παύλος). At the main intersection to the village, turn right on a road that requires you to navigate a narrow passage between two large brown houses. Keep traveling down this road past a cluster of houses until you reach the church, which will be on your right.

In 1866, the Church of Saint Paul underwent a dramatic renovation financed by the residents of Agios Pavlos. Another major renovation happened in 1898, when the church was stabilized with the addition of a wall to its northern side. A similar wall seems to have been added later to its southern side.

The 1898 renovation revealed round wires that were part of clerical head coverings called kalimafkia (καλιμαύκιa) (similar to stovepipe hats but without a brim) and a gold cross among the bones that were unearthed there. These artifacts suggest that clergy were buried in tombs both inside and outside of the church. The church might very well have been a burial site for other Gavalochori residents, too.

This church is named for Saint Paul (Agios Pavlos, Άγιος Παύλος), a Christian apostle but not one of Jesus’s 12 disciplines. He was born around 5 AD in Tarsus, a city in what is now Turkey, and is known for founding several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Europe and for spreading the teachings of Jesus. He participated in the persecution of early followers of Jesus until he was converted to Christianity while traveling to Damascus. He was blinded by a bright light, and a vision of Jesus appeared, verbally addressing Saint Paul regarding his persecution of Christians. When Saint Paul’s sight was restored three days later, he embraced Christianity and was baptized. Saint Paul’s missionary journeys took him through modern-day Turkey, Israel, Spain, Italy, and Crete. Little is known about his death, but he was probably beheaded in Rome, caught up in a wave of attacks on Christians following a great fire in Rome for which they were blamed. 

The name or feast day of Saint Paul is June 29, which is also the name or feast day of Saint Peter, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, so the two saints are celebrated together on this day. The decision to jointly celebrate Saints Peter and Paul was made in 258 AD, when Pope Sixtus II transferred their remains to the catacomb of the Basilica of Saint Sebastian in Rome. The special position they hold in the Christian faith is evidenced by the fact that, in their icons, the two apostles are shown together, holding a small Byzantine temple that symbolizes the church.

Religious services commemorating Saints Paul and Peter are celebrated the evening before and the morning of June 29 in the church. The evening service begins at about 7:00 and the morning service at about 7:30.

Situated in the village of Agios Pavlos, part of the municipality of Gavalochori, the Church of Saint Paul is the most distinctive church in the village. The stone of which it is made is visible and not covered with plaster, and it has almost a trapezoidal or pyramid shape, with two stone flanks on each side that almost seem to be propping it up. The large, well-tended courtyard contains very old carob and oak trees, and you can see an old cistern that was used to supply water to the church. This is a church that is typically not open, so you’ll be able to see inside only if a service or ceremony is taking place in it.

One way to think of this church is as a church of refugees. When the Turks destroyed the monastery of Saint George in the late 17th century, the monks from that monastery settled in the monastery that became this church. Some monks continued to live on this site through the early 19th century. 

To find the Church of Saint Paul, start from the main square in Gavalochori and follow the signs to Vamos (Βάμος). After curving around the village to the right and passing both the old well and the village trash station, keep going down the road to the village of Agios Pavlos (Άγιος Παύλος). At the main intersection to the village, turn right on a road that requires you to navigate a narrow passage between two large brown houses. Keep traveling down this road past a cluster of houses until you reach the church, which will be on your right.

In 1866, the Church of Saint Paul underwent a dramatic renovation financed by the residents of Agios Pavlos. Another major renovation happened in 1898, when the church was stabilized with the addition of a wall to its northern side. A similar wall seems to have been added later to its southern side.

The 1898 renovation revealed round wires that were part of clerical head coverings called kalimafkia (καλιμαύκιa) (similar to stovepipe hats but without a brim) and a gold cross among the bones that were unearthed there. These artifacts suggest that clergy were buried in tombs both inside and outside of the church. The church might very well have been a burial site for other Gavalochori residents, too.

This church is named for Saint Paul (Agios Pavlos, Άγιος Παύλος), a Christian apostle but not one of Jesus’s 12 disciplines. He was born around 5 AD in Tarsus, a city in what is now Turkey, and is known for founding several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Europe and for spreading the teachings of Jesus. He participated in the persecution of early followers of Jesus until he was converted to Christianity while traveling to Damascus. He was blinded by a bright light, and a vision of Jesus appeared, verbally addressing Saint Paul regarding his persecution of Christians. When Saint Paul’s sight was restored three days later, he embraced Christianity and was baptized. Saint Paul’s missionary journeys took him through modern-day Turkey, Israel, Spain, Italy, and Crete. Little is known about his death, but he was probably beheaded in Rome, caught up in a wave of attacks on Christians following a great fire in Rome for which they were blamed. 

The name or feast day of Saint Paul is June 29, which is also the name or feast day of Saint Peter, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, so the two saints are celebrated together on this day. The decision to jointly celebrate Saints Peter and Paul was made in 258 AD, when Pope Sixtus II transferred their remains to the catacomb of the Basilica of Saint Sebastian in Rome. The special position they hold in the Christian faith is evidenced by the fact that, in their icons, the two apostles are shown together, holding a small Byzantine temple that symbolizes the church.

Religious services commemorating Saints Paul and Peter are celebrated the evening before and the morning of June 29 in the church. The evening service begins at about 7:00 and the morning service at about 7:30.

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