Agios
Georgios tour by bus
 It
Agios Georgios is a patriarchal monastery
at the desolate southwest coast of the island. The grandeur
of Agios Georgios and the service it has rendered to
the island is imprinted on our history. The natural
beauty of the area, the clear atmosphere, the well-known
hospitality of the family who support and maintain this
one-time monastery, and the enjoyable swim at the nearby
dreamlike beach of Helatros surpass the guests' expectations.
It is worth noting that the monastery's ten spare rooms
are gladly at the guests' disposal should they wish
to spend the night. To get there take the road alongside
to dry Skylas riverbed to Arvanitochori, beyond which
it crosses the river and continuous up to the mountainside
after passing the little chapel of Agios Georgios Kountoualiotis.
From this point it takes 2,5 hours walk to reach Agios
Georgios Chadies. Here and there along the way, olive-,
fig- and almond trees are to be seen behind stone walls,
their only shelter from the strong winds. About the
half way one comes to a fertile plain with the age-old
name of Argos Georgios in which barley and wheat, olives
and almonds are cultivated.
Forty five minutes before getting to Agios Georgios
of Chadies there is a fork to the road straight ahead
to the Bay of Chelatros and a chapel to the Virgin Mary
on the south coast, and to the right it goes to Agios
Georgios Chadies. In this windswept area the earth shines
in all colours. A string of donkeys accompanied by a
dog passed by farmers returning from their fields or
sheepfolds. Agios Georgios is not to be seen from the
road, lying as it does behind an outcrop and surrounding
fields, and some olive- fig- and almond trees.
The establishing of the church goes back to the discovery
of an icon of Agios Georgios. According the legend,
in the year 1690 seven fishermen found an icon of Agios
Georgios in the sea. They took this as a sign that a
church had to be built for him, but agreement could
not be found as to where. One wanted it built on a mountain
peak, another wanted it rather along the coast and another
in the depths of a ravine. Eventually St. George appeared
to one of them, in a dream and said: '' Put the icon
on a donkey and let it go where it will, and build a
church where the donkey eventually stops''. And that
was how it happened, the donkey stopped where the church
is today.
There are countless legends about Agios Georgios of
Chadies, and there is no Kassian young or old who does
not have a tale to tell. The truth is that the icon
of Agios Georgios is a miracle one and helps everyone
requesting his help.
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