Wildfires have run rampant in the Municipality of Xylokastro-Evrostini in Corinthia, Greece, resulting in the loss of the historic Church of Panagia Katafygia.
Reports from KorinthosTV indicate that the cherished church, located in the Zaholi region, was completely consumed by the rapidly advancing flames.
The Church of Panagia Katafygia, situated approximately 10 km south of Derveni, along the route to the mountainous Sarantapicho, marked a significant religious and historical landmark.
The name, “Katafygia,” is representative of the establishment’s origins as a refuge for locals escaping Turkish occupation.
According to legend, in 1782, the first settlers found sanctuary in the area’s remote caves and steep cliffs, leading to the church‘s construction soon after.
For nearly a century, a nun maintained the chapel, but by 1880, she abandoned it due to the challenges posed by its inaccessibility and isolation.
The local community partnered with neighbouring monasteries, the Holy Monastery of Prophet Elias Koutos and the Church of Saint George Zacholis, to take on the responsibility of caring for the church.
