Names of the 2 Blue Domed Churches in Santorini
Where is the famous blue domed church located in Santorini?
Very often, tourists are looking for the "one and only" blue domed church in Santorini. The truth is that the island has more than 365 churches in a population of about 16000. Most of the them are white color and their dome is painted in deep blue. But who has 365 days to visit and admire them all?
Here is a list of the top 5 Blue Domed Churches in Santorini.
1. Panagia Platsani.
This Holy Church in Oia is dedicated to the Akathist Hymn of the Virgin Mary. The front courtyard and village square is the point of annual celebrations such as Easter and occasionally a wedding.
It was originally built at the edge of the Oia village inside the castle, where today's visitors are daily gathered in order to enjoy the view of the famous sunset. Following the destructive earthquake of the July 9th, 1956, the church was ruined and given the unstable state of the soil at that place, the Church was rebuilt at the center of today's town.
In 626 A.D. countless Hordes of Avari and Persians were besieging Constantinople, but its few defenders inspired by Patriarch Sergios and assisted by Virgin Mary, managed to defeat the invaders. After the victory, all the people of Constantinople gathered in the church of Vlaherne and chanted all night long a hymn to Virgin Mary to thank Her for for the miraculous salvation of the City. People did not sit down at all, hence the name of the hymn "Akathistus" (Standind).
Tradition says that the icon of the Virgin Mary positioned at the Church's Temple was found in the sea. A fisherman while fishing, saw in the middle of the sea a light that resembled a lit candle. Heading towards it, he found the icon of the Virgin Mary which as he was trying to reach, it was receding. He then notified the locl priest, who alongside the villagers, with prayers and carrying torches went down to the sea shore and with great respect transferred the icon to the village church.
The next day when the priest entered the church to light up the candles, he saw no sign of the new icon. After a search that lasted many hours, the icon was found by the walls of the castle from where it was once more transferred to the church. The following day also the villagers where to find the icon by the castle and return it to the church, a routine that was to be continued until they agreed to contribute to the construction of a church at the same place were Virgin Mary Herself had chosen to appear, so She could overlook the sea where she came from and be able to bless the sails men departing for their long trips. The name of the Chruch "Platsani" was given due to the sound of the waves "plats – plats" that hit the icon in the sea.
All the Holy utensils are dedications of pious Oia's sailors to the Virgin Mary in order to protect them during their long trips. Most of the are from the Orthodox Russia a country to which Oia's sailships transported Santorini's famous wine. The temple is made of carved wood. There is a date 1820 inscribed on it which might correspond to its gold plating because it's actual construction is estimated by the specialists to be even earlier. The frescos of the church were made in three stages by local painters.
- This Church is usually open to public from early in the morning till after sunset.
- The entrance is free. No need to get tickets.
- It celebrates the Divine Liturgy every Sunday throughout the year.
Platsani is located in the main square of Oia village. The square is also known as Nikolaou Nomikou Square and it is very easy to be reached.
Address
Ekklisia Panagia Platsani,
Nikolaou Nomikou,
Oia 847 00,
Greece
Phone: +30 2286 071482
How to reach
The village is very easy to be reachd either by public transport or private vehicles. When you arrive in Oia, just follow the main pedestrian cobbled path to the West. The square is also the main meeting point for travel groups big and small, so a lot of tourists will be there, especially during high season.
GPS Coordinates: 36.462103, 25.376203
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2. Agios Spyridonas & Anastaseos
Actually these are 2 churches, built in Oia, next to each other, at the edge of the cliffs. They are the most popular blue domed churches in Greece and are found in the postcards and souvenirs.
The first one is called 'Agios Spyridonas' and is dedicated to 'Saint Spyridon' who is honoured in both the Eastern and Western Christian traditions. The second church in the background is called 'Anastaseos' ("Resurrection" in Greek) and is dedicated to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
These chapels are considered as national monuments since dozens of religious masterpieces are kept inside.
Since the Venetian times, the local sailors donated their churches with chandeliers that were brought from the Orthodox Russia. In addition to that, local people frequently treasure the churches with handmade venerated icons, jewellery and various religious objects that represent their strong faith to God.
Both churches are public and you can admire them from the outside, but entrance is not allowed to tourists. If you would like to do an inside tour, we can arrange a private visit for you. Feel free to get in touch with us to plan a fantastic religious tour for you.
How to reach
The 2 blue-dome chapels are in the heart of the village, an easy walk from the main square. They're below a row of buildings you can't see over but from the main square go West and walk past the small church and turn left at the second lane where you see a sign for the Aspaki Hotel. Once you're behind the church you'll see them below and to the right. Or you can turn right at the main square and contunue further along the pedestrian shopping lane and turn left at Lotza Restaurant. They're below and to the left of Lotza.
Address
Anastaseos Church,
Oia 847 00,
Greece
How to reach
The village is very easy to be reachd either by public transport or private vehicles. When you arrive in Oia, just follow the main pedestrian cobbled path to the West. The square is also the main meeting point for travel groups big and small, so a lot of tourists will be there, especially during high season.
GPS Coordinates: 36.461221, 25.375591
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3. Aghioi Theodoroi church
Two smaller Catholic chapels, dedicated to Panagia (Virgin Mary) and Aghioi (St) Theodoroi used to stand at this very point, in the past. In 1570, a sailor brought back from Russia an icon depicting Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. In order to honour it, the Catholics built a big church in the place of the two smaler chapels, and soon people spread the word that the icon was miraculous.
But instead of uniting Christian Catholics and Orthodox, it devided them. Catholics thought it belonged to them, having brought it all the way from Russia, while the Orthodox thought it belonged to them, having been executed in Byzantine style by an Orthodox painter.
As noted in Archimandrite Daniel Denaxas's book, the picture had been stolen twice by the Orthodox, once in 1797 and once in 1811, and both times an intervention from two different Patriarchs of Constantinople (Grigorios and Ieremias) along with their orders made the return of it to the Catholic church in Firostefani possible.
A third time later on, again being stolen, the picture had been returned under the threat from a French battleship. From then on it stayed there for worshiping by both Catholics and Orthodox. The church sustained damage from the 1956 earthquake, but the picture of Virgin Mary remained untouched.
Source: Munipality of Thira
This church is also public and you can admire it from the outside, but it's not always open to public.
If you would like to explore the inside of the church, we are able to plan a private visit for you. Kindly get in touch with us to plan a unique religious tour for you.
So, this church is actually in Firostefani. Not in Oia. If you are looking for it, go to the main square in Firostefani, turn left and find Santorini Palace hotel. From the hotel, there is a small road up the hill on your right. You follow that, look over the edge and here it is.
GPS Coordinates: 36.423264, 25.428445
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4. Panagia Theoskepasti
You can admire the church from the outside, but it's not always open to public.
Theoskepasti is built at the rock of Skaros. Skaros is a kind of conic peninsula that on top forms a big rock, about 20 m high.
Address
Ekklisia Theoskepasti,
Imerovigli,
Santorini 847 00,
Greece
How to reach
It's a trip for the active Santorini tourist. You will need to use the public transport or a private vehicle and arrive first in Imerovigli village. Imerovigli is just 7 minute drive from Fira, the capital of the island. Afterwards you have to walk to the seaside end of the village first, and from there it's around 30 min walk (one way) on rocky volcanic cliffs. You also need some good shoes, a hat, water, and your camera, as the views are breathtaking.
GPS Coordinates: 36.432041, 25.416995
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