A unique tiny church built in the trunk of a huge tree near the town of Konitsa draws thousands of visitors from Greece and abroad each year. The tree church of Saint Paisios is located 22 kilometers (about 13.5 miles) north of Konitsa, in the village of Agia Varvara in northwestern Greece.
It is believed that Saint Paisios, one of the most beloved figures in the Orthodox Church, passed through the area in his youth on his way to nearby villages to do carpentry work in local homes.
The tree had been damaged by fires set by passersby, either to keep warm or for barbecues. Over the years, its condition deteriorated, raising concerns that it might eventually collapse. Thanks to a local villager, however, the weak tree was internally supported with stone and turned into a place of pilgrimage, the Dentrokklisia, in honor of Saint Paisios.
On the outside, there is a small bell, while on the inside, where there is room for only two people, there is a recess where the visitor can light his candle. There is also a candelabrum and icons of Christ and the Virgin Mary with an icon of Saint Paisios in the middle. The tree has turned green again and has become a jewel for the area.
The tree-lined church ranks high among Konitsa attractions according to the TripAdvisor world guide and won the Best Travelers Choice 2021 award for Konitsa attractions and activities.
Tree church in Greece honors Saint Paisios
Known for his incredible prophesies, countless miracles, deep understanding of the love of God, and mysticism, Saint Paisios is among the most revered of all the saints in the Church. He is extremely popular around the Orthodox world, particularly in Greece, Cyprus, and Russia.
Born in Cappadocia, Turkey in 1924, Saint Paisios fled to Greece with his family as refugees after the population exchange between Turkey and Greece soon after his birth. During his life, the saint made many famous predictions regarding world events and politics, including a future war between Turkey and Russia that would lead to Greece expanding its borders to areas that had been Greek in antiquity.
Paisios wrote four books, published by the Holy Monastery Saint John the Theologian: Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian (1991), Elder Hadji-Georgis the Athonite, 1809-1886 (1986), Athonite Fathers and Athonite Matters (1993) and Letters (1994).
Saint Paisios passed away at the age of 69 in 1994. He was canonized in 2015 by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The church commemorates his feast day on July 12th. Each year, thousands of worshipers travel to Thessaloniki to pay their respects to Saint Paisios, whose tomb is located at the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian.
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