Panagia Katholiki
Event Starts In
Description
Just 18 km from Rhodes Town and 1 km from Afandou village, near the beach, Panagia Katholiki Church is one of Rhodes’ most important religious and archaeological landmarks.
Dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, the present church dates to 1308 and was built over the remains of a much larger Early Christian basilica. According to local tradition, the earlier church was destroyed either by the earthquake associated with the fall of the Colossus of Rhodes or by pirate raids.
It is believed that the Early Christian church itself may have been built on the foundations of an even older sanctuary dedicated to the ancient Greek goddess Demeter. Materials from these earlier buildings were reused in the construction of Panagia Katholiki Church and can still be seen throughout both the exterior and interior. Among the most intriguing features outside the church are its ancient architectural elements, including distinctive column capitals.
Beside the entrance stands the so-called “Princess’s Throne”, linked to a local legend about a princess who came from Constantinople and was miraculously cured of an incurable illness. According to locals, the princess was also hidden from pirate raids through a trapdoor between the church entrance and a nearby tree. Today, only a small opening remains as a reminder of the story.
Inside, the stone iconostasis is decorated with frescoes dating from the 14th and 16th centuries. Further frescoes from these periods survive across much of the church interior and have been conserved over the years by the Greek Ministry of Culture. The traditional Rhodian Chochlaki pebblework on the floor is another notable feature.
Panagia Katholiki remains deeply revered by the people of Afandou village. Its sacred icon is kept in the village’s main church and is brought to Panagia Katholiki three times a year—on 15 August, 23 August and Easter Monday—for a procession and Divine Liturgy.
Feast Day and Panigyri of Panagia Katholiki in Afandou
The Panagia Katholiki Church in Afandou holds a special celebration on 15 August , marked by a vibrant traditional festival (Panigyri) that taking place on the evening of 14 August, drawing visitors from across Rhodes.