Saint Luke the Evangelist

Perched on the highest point of the village, 25 km from Rhodes Town, the Church of Saint Luke (Agios Loukas) in Soroni, Rhodes is a historic religious site known for its impressive architecture, religious art and beautiful sunset views.

Dedicated to Saint Luke the Apostle and Evangelist, the church is the main place of worship and the cemetery of Soroni, a traditional village on the west coast of Rhodes. Its history reflects the determination of local residents to create a church of remarkable scale, despite the village’s modest population and limited financial resources.

Construction began in 1858, inspired by the Church of Archangel Michael in the village of Archangelos, then considered the largest church on the island. Built through the collective labour of Soroni’s residents on the site of an older church, the new building took 14 years to complete. It was inaugurated on 20 July 1872 and became the largest church built on Rhodes between 1750 and 1924.

Impressive Architecture and a Peaceful Courtyard

Marble steps lead to the church entrance, where a unique bell tower, built in 1968, rises above the surrounding landscape. The spacious courtyard features tall cypress trees and a decorative mosaic in front of the entrance, creating a peaceful setting for visitors.

The church’s elevated position offers lovely views across the village and surrounding countryside. For those exploring Soroni village, the late afternoon is an especially rewarding time to visit, when the setting sun adds another dimension to the experience.

Historic Iconostasis and Religious Art

Inside, the church’s most striking feature is its elaborate wooden iconostasis, a carved screen in the Ottoman Baroque style. Completed in 1881, it is among the largest on Rhodes in both height and width. Its decoration includes rare religious icons dating back to 1716.

On the right-hand side of the iconostasis, a large, gilded shrine houses an icon of Saint Luke, surrounded by votive offerings left by worshippers. The floor is laid with traditional Rhodian pebble mosaic, while beautiful frescoes adorn the walls.

The church once featured a particularly remarkable depiction of Christ Pantocrator in the dome above the central nave. Painted by Sakellaris Magklis, the composition showed Jesus Christ, a cross in the background and the four Evangelists. The artist reportedly described it as the finest work of his life. Sadly, this historic fresco was destroyed in 2017.

Visiting the Church of Saint Luke

The church is generally open to visitors on Sundays from 7:00 am to 10:00 am. It also usually opens on Saturday afternoons for Vespers, around 6:00 pm, although the time varies throughout the year.

Feast day and Panigyri of Agios Loukas in Soroni

The feast day of Saint Luke falls on 18 October. On the evening of 17 October, Soroni honours the Saint with a traditional village festival in the Town Hall courtyard in the village centre, featuring local food and traditional dancing.