Christ is risen!
I spent Holy Wednesday through Pascha serving the parish in Xinovrysi, a small village in Mt. Pelion with permanent residents numbering about 90 (summer population of about 150). I also went there to celebrate their feast, the Dormition of the Theotokos, last August.
The little village is just 4 km from a pristine eastern shore out onto the Aegean. Here are some photos I took one evening on a walk. Above, to the left in the background, you can see the island of Skiathos.
The village is about 50 km from the city of Volos, but it takes about an hour to drive.
Xinovrysi has only a couple bed & breakfast type places for the many summer visitors, a couple restaurants, and a small general store. For everything else, one needs to drive over to Argalasti, a village of about 1200. Above is a photo of the town square.
Xinovrysi (or Xinovrisi) is 7 km from Argalasti along some winding mountain roads.
Another photo of Argalasti taken from a cafe. The town's church, dedicated to the 12 Apostles, is opposite.
Xinovrysi's little parish has about 7 country chapels. I tried to visit a few of them in the few hours between services. Above is St. Paraskevi's, which is very close to the main church.
Here is a relatively new chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas in Vounenois, which was built by a village resident who had gone to America and done well financially. Above is an icon of the saint over the door.
A view of part of the village from the door of the chapel.
The chapel, which is just up the hill from the chapel to St. Paraskevi.
Down closer to the water is this chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
Some of the parish's dedicated women were up until 3:30 AM decorating this bier. Many of the flowers are from parishioner's gardens.
The cross, which dates to the 19th century. The iconostasis in the background is original and dates to the church's construction in 1819.
Another chapel, dedicated to St. George. Just at the end of the overhang you can make out the chapel to St. Nicholas, and just below that and to the right, the chapel to St. Paraskevi. You can see them a bit better in the photo below taken from St. George's.
For a few more photos, click here.
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